How does the FBI work?

The FBI is an American security agency with a central role in fighting terrorism and corruption, and has strict recruitment standards.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is the US domestic security and intelligence agency, and acts as the nation's federal law enforcement agency. The FBI is part of the US Department of Justice, reporting to both the US Justice Minister and the National Intelligence Director. As the leading US anti-terrorism, counterintelligence agency and criminal investigation, the FBI has the authority to investigate violations in more than 200 federal crime lists.

The FBI is a major domestic organization , based in J. Edgar Hoover Building, Washington, with 56 representative offices in major cities across the United States and more than 400 resident offices in cities. Smaller and nationwide areas.

FBI headquarters.(Photo: FBI).

The FBI also maintains an important international footprint, operates more than 60 legal attaché offices and more than a dozen small offices around the globe. Overseas offices exist primarily for the purpose of coordinating with the US foreign security agency and often do not conduct unilateral activities in the host country.

The FBI was founded in 1908 as the Investigation Bureau and was renamed the Federal Bureau of Investigation in 1935. The first FBI director was J. Edgar Hoover, serving 48 years between 1924 and 1972 (including time since the FBI was also called the Investigation Department. After his death, the US Congress passed the law to limit the tenure of the FBI director to 10 years.

The FBI is organized into a Director's Office (including many administrative offices attached) and branches based on functions. Leading each branch is the executive assistant. Some branches reported to the deputy director of the FBI while the remaining branches reported to assistant deputy directors.

The main task of the FBI is to fight terrorism, counter-espionage, protect civil rights, investigate cyber-attacks, corruption, white-collar crime, organized crime, violent crimes. In addition, the FBI also prevented, coped and investigated cases involving weapons of mass destruction. At the same time, the FBI cooperates, supporting other law enforcement agencies, such as fingerprint identification, laboratory tests and training. They also gathered, shared and analyzed intelligence information, to support their investigations and partners to counter the US security threats faced.

The FBI has more than 30,000 agents, experts and other employees. Applicants to the FBI must be aged 23 to 37, veterans can be prioritized after 37 years of age. They must be American citizens, have a good background and have a 4-year bachelor's degree.

All FBI employees are required to have top-secret security checks (background checks, overseas trips, properties, personalities .). The special agent must pass a physical test that includes a 300m run, 1 minute to make the gesture stand up, take a deep breath and run 2.4km. In addition, the applicant must pass a cardiovascular examination with questions about a history of drug use.

FBI organization chart in 2014. (Graphic: FBI).

FBI Director

The FBI director is appointed by the US President and must be approved by the US Senate . The FBI director is responsible for the day-to-day operations at the FBI. Along with the deputy director, the director ensures that the cases and activities are handled correctly, while ensuring that the FBI representative offices are led by qualified people.

Since J. Edgar Hoover became the first FBI director in 1924, he has affirmed that this is a non-partisan agency and is simply responsible for learning the truth. According to NYTimes, the FBI director must be politically neutral, not showing loyalty or leaning on any party. This explains why the US Congress passed the law stipulating the working time of the FBI director is 10 years, regardless of the presidency.

While operating as part of the US Department of Justice, the FBI is known to be one of the most independent agencies in the executive branch. The National Constitution Center, a non-governmental organization dedicated to explaining the US constitution, called the position of director of the FBI "one of the most independent officials in the federal government".

The most recent FBI director is James B. Comey, who was appointed in 2013 by US President Barack Obama. He was fired by US President Donald Trump on May 9, 2017.