The FBI is making significant changes to its approach in combatting foreign threats to US elections. A source familiar with the matter revealed that the FBI is preparing to disband the Foreign Influence Task Force, a team of specialists dedicated to addressing foreign interference in the electoral process.
The decision to disband the task force comes following a directive from incoming US Attorney General Pam Bondi. In a memo issued on Wednesday, Bondi stated that the disbandment is aimed at reallocating resources to address more urgent priorities and to prevent potential weaponization and abuses of prosecutorial discretion.
The Foreign Influence Task Force was initially established in 2017 by former FBI Director Christopher Wray in response to a surge in foreign influence operations targeting US elections. These operations included Russia's attempts to influence the 2016 presidential election.
Wray emphasized the importance of the task force in identifying and countering malign foreign influence operations that target democratic institutions and values. The team brought together expertise from various FBI divisions, including counterintelligence, cyber, criminal, and counterterrorism, to effectively combat foreign interference in US elections.
The decision to disband the task force raises concerns about the future of efforts to safeguard the integrity of US elections against foreign threats. Critics worry that without a specialized team focused on foreign influence operations, the US may become more vulnerable to external interference in its electoral processes.
