Key Programs

The Weapons of Mass Destruction Directorate (WMDD) is responsible for building an enduring, integrated, and agile United States government capability that effectively mitigates WMD threats. It provides leadership, guidance, and expertise to the U.S. government on WMD issues and influencing the development of interagency policy, plans, and strategy. At the same time, WMDD is responsible for coordinating WMD operational efforts through the FBI’s field-based WMD coordinators and counterproliferation coordinators. To best address the many requirements of the mission, the FBI approaches the WMD issue in terms of four major functional categories: preparedness, countermeasures, investigations/operations, and intelligence.

Preparedness

The WMD Preparedness subprogram incorporates elements of planning, training, and exercises to ensure that the FBI and its U.S. government partners are ready to respond to WMD threats when they emerge. This involves the development of comprehensive plans and policy at the strategic and operational levels that inform everyone involved in a situation what their specific responsibilities and courses of action are. The Bureau encourages its employees to pursue a variety of training opportunities to improve their understanding of WMD threats and operational processes. It  conducts many of these courses itself, providing an advanced level of training to its special agents and intelligence analysts on chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive threats. To ensure that both the training and plans are adequate, the FBI regularly evaluates its progress through simulations and scenario-based exercises. These exercises provide the added benefits of improving coordination with other participating federal, state, local, and tribal agencies; enhancing participants’ understanding of their each others’ capabilities; and illustrating the areas where added resources are necessary.

Countermeasures

The WMD Countermeasures subprogram consists of outreach activities and more specialized coordination called tripwires. Countermeasures are actions taken to counter, eliminate, or offset the WMD threat. Tripwires are proactive warning processes established to provide indicators of an emerging threat. Tripwires can be leveraged to provide real-time actionable intelligence to address immediate needs. In practical terms, tripwires are outreach activities with a specific purpose to establish an early warning network where those closest to an emerging situation (e.g. state and local public health, academic researchers, members of industry) are aware of potential risks and are prepared to inform the FBI when a risk may be developing into a WMD threat.

Investigations & Operations

The FBI has multiple entities and programs in place around the world for the investigative, intelligence, counterintelligence, and overall law enforcement response to a terrorist threat or incident in the U.S. The WMDD investigates the threatened, attempted, and actual use of a WMD, as well as the attempted or actual transfer of the materials, knowledge, and technology needed to create a WMD. The FBI maintains a robust response capability that can collect evidence in contaminated areas, disarm hazardous devices, and provide direct command and control support in on-scene situations, and WMDD coordinates many of these capabilities across the FBI. The Bureau also supports major public events (e.g., sporting events, presidential speeches) through the deployment of personnel prepared to respond if a threat emerges.

Intelligence

The basis for the FBI’s proactive approach to the countermeasures, investigations, and operations is timely, relevant, and actionable intelligence analysis. WMDD intelligence analysts provide intelligence for internal and external stakeholders. As a law enforcement agency, the FBI consumes its own intelligence, and analysts inform operators and decision makers within the Bureau on current and emerging WMD threats. As part of the U.S. Intelligence Community, WMDD analysts also provide intelligence analysis and products to improve U.S. and foreign partner understanding of these threats as well.