The advocacy group recently released a detailed report entailing specific problems stemming from lack of financial stability. 

The FBIAA claims current budget cuts expose vulnerable populations to greater risks, close white-collar cases, create unpaid furlough days for agents, reduce field time, constrain use of official vehicles, and harm local cooperation among other issues. Former FBI Director Robert Mueller said that the 2013 Fiscal Year cuts were comparable to closing the Bureau’s offices in Miami, Baltimore, and Chicago. The lack of funding has also created a hiring freeze within the Bureau.

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One FBI agent spoke of the freeze’s effects on mortgage/financial fraud cases:  

The hiring freeze has prohibited our team from adding new agents to combat the significant surge in investment fraud and mortgage loan modification fraud. Resources are stretched and not able to completely address the financial losses experienced in our area of responsibility. With the loan modification fraud, many victims lose their home and life savings because of the scheme.

Several new targets have recently been identified; just this past week, four known fraudsters were advertising in the classifieds for employees to expand their current fraudulent schemes, however, with our lack of resources and now the additional cuts and furloughs, we are not able to address the progressing schemes.

Lack of funding also inhibits prevention of terrorist activities. Another FBI agent commented on the issue, “[I] work International and Domestic Counterterrorism. Budget restrictions have and will continue to limit the resources available to include personnel and equipment. Restrictions in surveillance technology means the necessary facilities used for terrorist communications won't be monitored.”

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As if these complications weren’t reason enough to increase FBI funding, the government is cutting short a source that, in fact, finds it more money. The Bureau’s work has resulted in the payment of over $23 billion in penalties and recoveries to the federal government in the past three years.

The FBIAA packet urges, “It’s time for Congress and the White House to negotiate an agreement that protects national security and public safety, and eliminates devastating cuts to the Bureau that would hurt thousands of dedicated Agents and their families who faithfully and effectively serve the United States each and every day.”

Reach Staff Reporter Sarah Collins here. Follow her on Twitter here.