FBI's Spy-Tracking Squads Shrink Amid Rising Threats The FBI's counterintelligence squads, responsible for detecting and thwarting foreign espionage, have suffered significant personnel cuts across the U.S. Sources indicate that in numerous field offices, these units are functioning at only a fraction of their intended strength, with some seeing squad numbers cut in half. This depletion comes at a time when the U.S. is embroiled in conflicts and competing against aggressive espionage campaigns from rivals like China and Russia. The reduced focus on counterintelligence appears to be a consequence of the bureau's redirected emphasis on high-priority issues such as violent crime and immigration, rather than a direct order to close down the squads. Squads specializing in tracking foreign spies have been hit with deep cuts across the U.S., even as the country faces increasing threats from adversaries like China and Russia, according to five sources familiar with the matter. In many regions, these counterintelligence squads now operate at only 50-60% capacity, and some have seen their numbers halved. This reduction is not due to a specific directive but reflects the FBI's shifting priorities toward violent crime and immigration, leaving critical espionage defense efforts understaffed and potentially compromising national security.