Public Corruption

The FBI's top criminal investigative priority poses a fundamental threat to our national security and way of life.

It can affect how well our borders are secured, how verdicts are handed down in courts, and how public infrastructure like roads and schools are built. It also takes a significant toll on the public’s pocketbooks; it's estimated that public corruption costs the U.S. government and the public billions of tax dollars each year.

The FBI is uniquely situated to combat corruption, with the skills and capabilities to run complex undercover operations and surveillance.

We also work with a number of federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies to combat public corruption, including:

  • Department of Justice
  • offices of inspectors general in different agencies
  • law enforcement agencies' internal affairs divisions
  • federal, state, and local law enforcement and regulatory investigative agencies
  • state and county prosecutor's offices

Border corruption

The FBI helps combat the threat posed by public corruption at our nation’s borders and ports of entry. 

Every day, more than a million people enter the U.S. through one of the more than 300 official ports of entry and through seaports and international airports. The federal government also protects approximately 7,000 miles along the U.S. border and 95,000 miles of U.S. shoreline.

Border Corruption

Border Corruption


Election crimes

The FBI has an important but limited role in ensuring fair and free elections.

In democratic societies like the United States, the voting process lets citizens hold their government accountable, conflicts be channeled into resolutions, and power transfers happen peacefully. Our system of representative government works only when honest ballots are not diluted by fraudulent ballots. 

Election Crimes

Election Crimes


International corruption

The FBI addresses global fraud against the U.S. government and the corruption of federal public officials outside the continental United States.

International corruption negatively affects U.S. financial markets and economic growth.

International Corruption

International Corruption


Procurement fraud and corruption

Procurement fraud happens when criminals target federal procurement funds—a lifeline of money for government. Procurement officials are vital in the fight against this type of fraud and corruption. 

Procurement Fraud and Corruption

Procurement Fraud and Corruption


Prison corruption

The FBI’s prison corruption initiative addresses contraband smuggling by local, state, and federal prison officials. 

Through this initiative, the FBI builds and strengthens relationships with state/local corrections departments and the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Inspector General to identify prison facilities plagued with systemic corruption and to investigate corruption as appropriate.

Prison Corruption

Prison Corruption

News