Federal Law Enforcement Reorganization

Liberty
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Purpose

The Federal Law Enforcement Reorganization Act presents an essential opportunity to rebuild trust and improve efficiency within federal law enforcement. Public confidence in key institutions, particularly the FBI and Justice Department, has waned over time, with almost half of Americans expressing concerns about its operations and effectiveness. Since its founding, the FBI has faced criticism for practices that have sometimes overstepped its intended scope, including accusations of using its authority to blackmail politicians and pursue partisan objectives. This legacy of controversy has persisted into modern times, further contributing to a trend of declining public trust. As of 2022, only about 44% of Americans viewed the FBI positively, with a striking disparity along partisan lines, revealing deep-rooted skepticism that cannot be ignored.

The Act proposes a comprehensive solution to address these issues by consolidating federal law enforcement agencies under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), thereby creating a unified and transparent framework better suited to today’s challenges. By eliminating redundancy and enhancing accountability, this restructuring would also create specialized divisions for critical issues like cybercrime, public corruption, and civil rights enforcement, providing clearer focus and purpose.

At its core, this Act aims to replace a fragmented and often mistrusted system with a cohesive, streamlined structure that serves the public’s interests effectively and equitably. By transferring agency functions to DHS, it promises greater operational efficiency and a commitment to transparency that prioritizes the security and trust of American communities. This reorganization offers a path forward to a fair, modernized federal law enforcement model grounded in accountability and public confidence.

Section 1: Scope and Definitions

1.1. This Act provides for:

  • The transfer of existing federal law enforcement agencies to DHS
  • The dissolution of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
  • The redistribution of current FBI functions
  • The establishment of new agencies as needed
  • A structured transition process

1.2. Definitions:

  • “Transfer date” means the date on which the transfer of functions becomes effective
  • “Legacy agencies” means federal law enforcement agencies existing prior to this reorganization
  • “Receiving agencies” means agencies designated to receive transferred functions

Section 2: Agency Transfers to Department of Homeland Security

2.1. The following agencies shall be transferred to DHS:

  • United States Marshals Service
  • Drug Enforcement Administration
  • Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
  • Office of International Affairs (Criminal Division)

2.2. Each transferred agency shall:

  • Maintain its distinct identity within DHS
  • Report directly to the Secretary of Homeland Security
  • Retain current statutory authorities unless otherwise specified

Section 3: Dissolution of the Federal Bureau of Investigation

3.1. The FBI shall cease operations as an independent agency on the transfer date.

3.2. Transfer of Existing FBI Functions:
a) Counterterrorism operations to DHS Counterterrorism Division
b) Counterintelligence operations to DHS Intelligence & Analysis
c) Cyber crime investigations to U.S. Cyber Command and CISA
d) Transnational organized crime investigations to HSI
e) Domestic organized crime investigations to DEA and HSI joint task forces
f) Human trafficking investigations to HSI
g) Civil rights violations to new Civil Rights Enforcement Division
h) Public corruption investigations to new Public Integrity Division
i) Violent crime investigations to U.S. Marshals Service
j) International money laundering to HSI Financial Operations Unit
k) Domestic financial crimes to Secret Service Financial Crimes Division
l) Cross-border weapons trafficking to HSI

Section 4: Agency Restructuring and New Agencies

4.1. Enhancement of HSI Authority:

4.1.1. Homeland Security Investigations shall:

  • Serve as DHS’s primary investigative arm
  • Lead all transnational criminal investigations
  • Coordinate international law enforcement operations
  • Maintain primary jurisdiction over:
    • Transnational organized crime
    • International money laundering
    • Cross-border weapons trafficking
    • Human trafficking and smuggling
    • International art and antiquities theft
    • International cyber crime (in coordination with CISA)
    • Export control violations
    • International public corruption cases

4.1.2. HSI Organizational Enhancement:

  • Expand international footprint and attaché offices
  • Create dedicated transnational organized crime centers
  • Establish enhanced financial investigations unit
  • Develop specialized cyber investigations division
  • Increase analytical and intelligence capabilities
  • Form joint operation centers with key partner agencies

4.2. Establishment of New Agencies

4.1. The following new agencies shall be established within DHS:

4.1.1. Bureau of Civil Rights Enforcement (BCRE):

  • Investigate violations of federal civil rights laws
  • Coordinate with Civil Rights Division of Department of Justice
  • Handle hate crimes investigations
  • Oversee police department compliance investigations

4.1.2. Office of Public Integrity (OPI):

  • Investigate public corruption
  • Handle election crimes
  • Investigate government fraud
  • Conduct background investigations for federal positions

Section 5: Resource Allocation and Enhancement

5.1. HSI Priority Staffing:

  • Transfer of qualified FBI international operations personnel to HSI
  • Priority placement of FBI transnational crime specialists within HSI
  • Enhanced recruiting for international operations
  • Increased language capability requirements
  • Expansion of cyber investigation expertise
  • Development of specialized financial crime units

5.2. General Resource Allocation

5.1. Personnel Transfer:

  • All qualified FBI personnel shall be offered positions within receiving agencies
  • Personnel shall retain their grade, pay, and benefits
  • Specialized units shall be transferred intact where practical

5.2. Asset Distribution:

  • Physical assets shall be transferred to receiving agencies based on functional alignment
  • Technological systems shall be integrated into DHS infrastructure
  • Regional offices shall be reassigned based on operational needs

Section 6: Records and Data Management

6.1. Transfer of Records:

  • All FBI records shall be preserved and transferred to appropriate receiving agencies
  • National Crime Information Center (NCIC) shall be transferred to DHS oversight
  • Historical records shall be maintained by National Archives

6.2. Data Systems:

  • Existing databases shall be integrated into DHS systems
  • Access protocols shall be established for all receiving agencies
  • Data sharing agreements shall be updated to reflect new structure
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Since we are going to reform how police powers work, let’s also address another common violation by police. The national civil forfeiture program must be reformed! Currently, there are federal and state programs that manage their own flavors of the program, which has led to many abuses and frauds. Unfortunately, in much of the nation, a police officer can simply seize property without due process, and it’s up to the individual to prove in court, at their own cost, that the seized property was lawfully theirs. Even with a judgment in some parts of the country, the police fail to return the assets (especially guns). Our law enforcement should not be motivated to seize any property not directly associated with a criminal charge and conviction. There are widely different laws and applications of civil forfeiture around the country. We need a standard federal set of laws and procedures formally documenting when it is allowed, how to manage them, dispose of real property, firearms, and cash.

First, require all seizures to either accompany the serving of a warrant, processing a crime scene, or be conducted in conjunction with an arrest. Second, require either a trial resulting in a conviction, or in circumstances where no trial is possible (i.e., suspect is dead, doesn’t show for trial), a judge shall rule based on the state’s evidence and determine whether the seizure may stand without a trial and conviction, and there are sufficient legal grounds for the seizure. Otherwise, the property must be returned to the owner or their estate at the department’s cost. If cash was seized, it shall include both the principal and interest earned. Third, after either the judge’s ruling or the suspect’s conviction, require all goods seized (cars, houses, guns, knives, jewelry, etc.) to be sold at open public auction, with the entire proceeds being donated to national nonprofit charities with an overhead cost of less than 10 percent, along with any seized cash and its interest.

Keep in mind, of course, that some suspects are not charged. In such cases, any and all seized property and interest on it must be returned!

The FBI’s best practices list good basics for having a program. Please refer to the following links for more information:

https://leb.fbi.gov/2016/august/asset-seizure-and-forfeiture-a-basic-guide

https://leb.fbi.gov/2016/september/asset-seizure-and-forfeiture-ethical-issues

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Thank you for this discussion! :heart: :heart:

Policing reformation is necessary and vital to our Republic moving forward. As we do so, Governance will be the “law of the land” as the People begin to take control of how their communities, their lives, their representatives act on their behalf. This, to me, also includes Policing. Individual communities should control their own Compassionate Policing programs- which is a new paradigm in itself. Police should not have anymore power than the People except to be given the direct responsibility to police by the People. There should be no other above the People in their communities to control their own Policing programs, all acting under the Constitution and Common Law. Let’s give power back to the People to hire, monitor, and control their own Policing programs. :heart:

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Get rid of the FBI.