The Federal Bureau of Investigation revised a controversial fact sheet that declared its primary mission to be “national security” after criticism that the agency seemed to be moving away from its longstanding role as the nation’s preeminent law enforcement agency, reports Foreign Policy. The change emphasizes that stopping terrorism and battling more conventional domestic criminal activity are both FBI “primary functions.”
The fact sheet was updated less than 48 hours after a report in Foreign Policy last week. An FBI official confirmed that the change was a direct result of the article. “It’s most accurate to say our primary functions are law enforcement and national security and that’s probably what it should’ve said all along,” said FBI spokesman Paul Bresson. Two days after the fact sheet declared, “the primary function of the FBI is national security,” the language changed to “the primary functions of the FBI are national security and law enforcement.” Kel MClanahan, a Washington lawyer, said, “Doing this so quickly and so obviously cover your ass-y seems beneath them.”