On January 1, 2025, a mass casualty vehicle attack on Bourbon Street in New Orleans marked the beginning of a horrific year. Within hours, a representative of the nation’s premier counterterrorism agency, the FBI, misinformed the public that the attack was not an act of terrorism, despite the presence of an ISIS flag on the attack vehicle. The FBI’s second-in-command, New Orleans Field Office, displayed a lack of knowledge, skills, and abilities, and failed to accurately report the facts and reassure the public.
The FBI’s assistant special agent in charge, Aletha Duncan, made several egregious mistakes, including announcing that there were coconspirators at large and that an IED had been planted, causing the Sugar Bowl to be unnecessarily postponed. Both statements had to be walked back after a highly respected FBI deputy assistant director took over the investigation.
The attack on Bourbon Street is a reminder of the FBI’s issues since 2016, including investigations driven by politics rather than facts, and the absence of merit as the sole measure for hiring and promotions. The FBI’s leadership has been plagued by “woke” executives guided by their own political bent and the agenda of the Justice Department.
The FBI’s effectiveness has been compromised by DEI initiatives, which some agents refer to as the “Didn’t Earn It” program. The dismal performance of the FBI ASAC on a national platform reflected poorly on the FBI, and the bureau’s leadership has been criticized for promoting the Biden trope that “White supremacy” is the greatest terror threat.
The new FBI director should reinstitute regular and thorough field office inspections and rigorous performance reviews to measure the efficiency, effectiveness, and objectivity of individual FBI agents and executives. The FBI must return to its motto of fidelity, bravery, and integrity, and reward merit, objectivity, and excellence.