FBI Shuts Down Surveillance Watchdog Amid Surveillance Law Debate
(MENAFN) FBI Director Kash Patel has shut down the Office of Internal Auditing, an internal watchdog established in 2020 to oversee the use of national security surveillance, according to a media report released on Tuesday.
"The elimination of the unit, the Office of Internal Auditing, comes as Congress debates whether to reauthorize a high-profile warrantless wiretapping law, Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, or FISA," the report noted. This law, which was the primary focus of the office, faced significant challenges last year before lawmakers extended it through April 2026.
This decision is seen as a major development, potentially providing critics of the law with new arguments to push for a drastic reduction or even the expiration of Section 702, given that this oversight mechanism has been removed, according to the report.
It also presents a key challenge for Patel, who gained prominence within pro-Trump circles for criticizing the FBI’s handling of surveillance laws but expressed support for Section 702 as an essential tool for foreign intelligence gathering and national security during his confirmation.
"The closure was part of a larger reorganization," the report further noted. The duties of the office, as well as those of the Office of Integrity and Compliance, which ensures employee adherence to laws and policies, have now been incorporated into the FBI’s inspection division.
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