Crime Doesn’t Pay But Neither Does the Government

About 5000 attorneys, agents, intelligence analysts, and other professionals are on furlough from the FBI due to the government shutdown, resulting in reduced staffing for critical functions. A spokesman wouldn’t go into detail about which investigations were impacted but said the agency’s mission was impaired. He described a growing backlog at the labs that provide forensic-analysis support services and said that funds supporting drug trafficking and undercover operations have been dangerously limited. If the shutdown doesn’t end soon agents in various field offices may stage a coordinated sick day in protest, but for now, the agents association is simply putting pressure on public officials. In a petition sent to the White House, the vice president’s office, and House and Senate leaders, the association warned of the effects of the ongoing shutdown on the bureau’s work.