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Government Shutdown

One FBI special agent said the partial government shutdown has “eliminated any ability to operate.” Another said the job has “never been so hard or thankless.” A third said agents cannot “protect and serve the American people.”

The anonymous testimonials came in a report Tuesday by the FBI Agents Association, which advocates for more than 14,000 active and former FBI special agents, detailing how the longest-ever partial government shutdown hinders the agency’s operations.

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“The shutdown has eliminated any ability to operate,” said one unnamed special agent, who the report said is working on counter-intelligence matters against a top threat to the United States’ national security. “It’s bad enough to work without pay, but we can only conduct administrative functions while doing it. The fear is our enemies know they can run freely.”

The Department of Justice did not respond to a request for comment on the report Tuesday.

No progress has been made by Republicans and Democrats to end the partial government shutdown, which is on day 32. President Donald Trump has not budged from his demand for more than $5 billion to fund a wall at the Mexican border, which Democrats have refused to accommodate.

The FBI association’s report, which includes anonymous accounts from special agents across the nation and some overseas, says the lack of funds has interfered with operations related to crimes against children and sex trafficking, drug and gang crimes, and counter-intelligence and counter-terrorism.

The anecdotes in the report are vague and include claims that forensic interviews of child victims are being delayed, that sources in counter-terrorism investigations have been lost and that travel has been restricted.

The report also warns of consequences agents could face if they are not paid.

Special agents are subjected to “rigorous and routine financial background check,” according to the report. The association warns that if agents get behind on payments, it could delay them securing or renewing security clearances, or even disqualify some agents from serving in some of their cases.

In addition, the association warns that pay uncertainty could dissuade individuals from being recruited to the FBI.