Comparing The Strategies By The Federal Bureau Of Investigation And The National Security Agency

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The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the National Security Agency (NSA) are two large United States government agencies that play a crucial role in combating terrorism. Although both agencies aim to protect national security, they have adopted distinct approaches to address threats from terrorism. The FBI concentrates mainly on gathering intelligence domestically and conducting criminal investigations, while the NSA specializes in foreign intelligence collection and electronic surveillance. The divergent policies can be attributed to each agency's distinct missions and objectives. This essay will delve into the strategies implemented by the FBI and NSA to counter terrorism threats, unveil the reasoning behind their policies, and provide …show more content…

According to the Department of Justice website (n.d.), the FBI's goal is to safeguard and defend the United States against foreign intelligence and terrorist threats, enforce the criminal laws of the country, and offer leadership and criminal justice services to federal, state, municipal, and international agencies and partners. The website goes on to state that the agency strives to carry out these duties in a manner that responds to the public's needs and is in line with the principles of the United States Constitution.
FBI Strategies The agency's main strategy for countering terrorist threats is focused on gathering intelligence and carrying out criminal investigations. This involves utilizing various tactics, including surveillance, informants, and undercover operations, to acquire intelligence on potential terrorist threats and identify individuals involved in terrorist activities (Hewitt, 2014). The FBI's Counterterrorism Division supports the agency's intelligence-gathering efforts by collecting and analyzing intelligence related to terrorism threats in the United States.
Furthermore, the FBI collaborates closely with state and local law enforcement agencies to coordinate counterterrorism efforts and exchange intelligence (FBI Information Sharing and Safeguarding Report 2012, …show more content…

These measures include the USA Freedom Act passed in 2015, which put an end to the NSA's bulk collection of phone records. Additionally, the government has increased oversight and transparency of the program, with the establishment of a Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board to review the program's activities and ensure compliance with the law. The Board's task is to investigate how the government gathers, stores, examines, and shares information about domestic terrorist threats. It also reviews the government's active actions and efforts to prevent domestic terrorism (PCLOB,