Government Executive covered today's press event and posted a great article about it this afternoon.
The piece, "FBI Agents Worry Criminals Will Have It Easier if Sequestration Continues," draws out the central points our panel of FBIAA leadership made at the National Press Club in DC today.
FBIAA President Rey Tariche is quoted as saying, "Terrorists don’t get furloughed. Cyber hackers don’t get furloughed. Gang leaders are not furloughed and it’s not an acceptable thing to furlough active FBI agents because of the risks posed from both terrorist and criminal threats."
The article also quotes FBIAA Vice President Tom O'Connor describing the negative impact cuts can have on the important relationships Agents develop with local law enforcement personnel - "The time to introduce yourself is not at a 9/11 or a Navy Yard event. You should already know the people you’re working with, have trained with them. I think that’s something very important we may be missing in the future with these cuts."
The work of Agents may be hampered by these cuts, but, as the article shows, Agents will not be defeated. Quoting Agent John Fagan of the Baltimore Field Office, "It definitely doesn’t make it any easier for us, but we’re used to these obstacles and it’s something we deal with. We’re going to be there no matter what."
You can read the full article by reporter Eric Katz here.
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