Federal Bureau of Investigation

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is the domestic intelligence and security service of the United States and its principal federal law enforcement agency. Operating under the jurisdiction of the United States Department of Justice, the FBI is also a member of the U.S. Intelligence Community and reports to both the Attorney General and the Director of National Intelligence. A leading U.S. counter-terrorism, counterintelligence, and criminal investigative organization, the FBI has jurisdiction over violations of more than 200 categories of federal crimes.
Although many of the FBI's functions are unique, its activities in support of national security are comparable to those of the British MI5 and the Russian FSB. Unlike the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), which has no law enforcement authority and is focused on intelligence collection abroad, the FBI is primarily a domestic agency, maintaining 56 field offices in major cities throughout the United States, and more than 400 resident agencies in smaller cities and areas across the nation. At an FBI field office, a senior-level FBI officer concurrently serves as the representative of the Director of National Intelligence.
Despite its domestic focus, the FBI also maintains a significant international footprint, operating 60 Legal Attache (LEGAT) offices and 15 sub-offices in U.S. embassies and consulates across the globe. These foreign offices exist primarily for the purpose of coordination with foreign security services and do not usually conduct unilateral operations in the host countries. The FBI can and does at times carry out secret activities overseas, just as the CIA has a limited domestic function; these activities generally require coordination across government agencies.

Structure

The FBI is organized into functional branches and the Office of the Director, which contains most administrative offices. An executive assistant director manages each branch. Each branch is then divided into offices and divisions, each headed by an assistant director. The various divisions are further divided into sub-branches, led by deputy assistant directors. Within these sub-branches, there are various sections headed by section chiefs. Section chiefs are ranked analogous to special agents in charge. Four of the branches report to the deputy director while two report to the associate director.

• FBI Intelligence Branch

• FBI National Security Branch

• FBI Criminal, Cyber, Response, and Services Branch

• FBI Science and Technology Branch

• FBI Information and Technology Branch

• FBI Human Resources Branch

Public Agenda

Protect the American people and uphold the Constitution of the United States
Currently, the FBI's top priorities are:

• Protect the United States from terrorist attacks
• Protect the United States against foreign intelligence operations, espionage, and cyber operations
• Combat significant cyber criminal activity
• Combat public corruption at all levels
• Protect civil rights
• Combat transnational criminal enterprises
• Combat major white-collar crime
• Combat significant violent crime

Fidelity, Bravery, Integrity

Founding Date

July 26, 1908

Type

Government, Law Enforcement

Alternative Names

FBI

Leader Title

Director

Location

Washington, D.C.