FBI Must Focus On Protecting Americans, Not Political Investigations

In the wake of the tragic ISIS-linked terror attack in New Orleans, Rep. Mark Green (R-TN), Chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, has made a call for the FBI to increase its manpower and resources to combat radicalization in the U.S. Green’s comments came after 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Jabbar used a truck to run over victims in the French Quarter before opening fire on law enforcement.

While Green’s plea for more FBI agents is well-intentioned, it brings into question the Bureau’s ability to focus on national security amidst its increasing focus on politically motivated investigations. One example of this misplaced attention is the case of Dr. Eithan Haim, a Texas-based doctor who blew the whistle on a child sex-change program at a local hospital. Instead of addressing terrorism and radicalization, the FBI spent significant time harassing Haim, undermining its own mission in the process.

At the same time, Jabbar was plotting his attack, raising concerns about the FBI’s failure to prioritize threats of terrorism. Had the agency focused more on individuals like Jabbar and less on politically charged issues, such as the investigation into Haim, perhaps the horrific events in New Orleans could have been prevented.

Green’s request for more FBI agents may help, but it won’t address the core issue. Until the FBI is willing to stop chasing political enemies and focus squarely on national security, its resources will continue to be spread thin and ineffective. The agency must be willing to shift its focus back to counterterrorism efforts.

With new concerns over the FBI’s role in politically motivated investigations, it’s clear that a structural shift in the Bureau’s focus is necessary to better protect Americans from terrorism.

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