Why Lower Standards?

APPLICANTS TO FBI ARE PLENTIFUL; RULES ON DRUG USE ACCOMMODATING.

The FBI's move to lower its standards relating to past drug use is
unnecessary and a troubling diversion from its vital mission.

The FBI is not suffering from a lack of applicants. On the contrary,
thousands of Americans apply each year for a very limited number of
FBI positions.

Since the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the applicant pool has only grown.
For example, 665,079 people applied to become part of the FBI's team
of analysts and support staff from fiscal year 2000 to the present.
The total number of those positions at the bureau is only around
18,000. In other words, even if every single position were vacated
and filled within those six years, only one in 37 applicants would
have been accepted. Of course, the reality is that the ratio is much higher.

Among the thousands of applicants, are there so few who have not
broken the law? One wonders what it is about repeat drug abusers that
the FBI thinks it needs. What in particular would these individuals
contribute that is not already available from the considerable number
of applicants? It is important to remember we're not talking here
about informants. We're talking about FBI professionals -- people
with enormous power and enormous responsibilities.

Unlike the CIA or State Department, the FBI is charged principally
with enforcing laws, including drug laws. We expect -- and should
continue to expect -- FBI employees to abide by the laws they are
charged to enforce. We expect people who have exhibited a lifetime of
good judgment.

The FBI's current hiring policy already includes a liberal allowance
for "youthful indiscretions." An applicant can have used marijuana up
to 15 times in his lifetime and other drugs, such as heroin and
cocaine, up to five times. Is this not already permissive enough? The
FBI is not Major League Baseball. It is disturbing when Mark McGwire
says he doesn't want to "talk about the past." It would be shocking
if the FBI allowed its prospective employees to make the same claim.

It is incredible that the FBI seems dedicated to lowering its own
standards. We need our best and brightest, now more than ever.

This change is unnecessary and unwise.

Rep. Mark Souder, R-Ind., is chairman of the House Subcommittee on
Criminal Justice, Drug Policy and Human Resources.