The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has shut down its internal watchdog unit that monitored how the agency used national security surveillance tools.
On Tuesday, The New York Times reported that FBI Director Kash Patel closed the Office of Internal Auditing, created in 2020 during Donald Trump’s presidency to ensure the proper use of warrantless wiretaps under Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA).
The law allows the government to collect communications from foreigners abroad but has been criticized for allegedly being used to search Americans’ communications without a warrant.
According to The Times, FBI official Cindy Hall, who heads the office, had retired following the closure.
The office’s responsibilities will be absorbed into the inspection division, which handles reviews of internal misconduct and use-of-force incidents. The Office of Integrity and Compliance, which helped ensure that FBI employees followed legal guidelines, was also folded into the same division.
According to sources cited by The Times, the move is part of a broader internal reorganization within the FBI, aimed at streamlining operations and consolidating resources.
Before becoming FBI director, Patel was a vocal critic of the FBI’s use of FISA. He had pushed back against its role in investigating Trump’s campaign during the Russia probe. However, during his Senate confirmation, he said the law was a valuable tool for national security.
According to an annual report released this month by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, FBI searches for information about Americans under Section 702 have dropped significantly. In 2024, the FBI used 5,518 query terms—such as email addresses and phone numbers—compared to 57,094 in 2023 and 119,383 in 2022.
The decision to close the office comes amid ongoing debates in Congress over whether to reauthorize Section 702 of the FISA. Congress had previously extended the provision until April 2026.
As of press time, the FBI has not provided a public explanation for the closure.
