2024-07-22 08:06:15
The Federal Intelligence Service (BND) is facing major challenges. Staff shortages and legal hurdles make foreign intelligence considerably more difficult.
The Federal Intelligence Service (BND) is struggling with significant problems in light of the threats from Russia, China, North Korea and Iran. According to information from “Bild”, the BND is currently missing over 700 secret agents, which is severely affecting the efficiency of foreign intelligence. In addition, legal restrictions are making the secret service’s work more difficult.
The BND currently employs 6,500 men and women, but many positions remain vacant. BND President Bruno Kahl urgently needs new secret agents to fill the gaps. In addition, many officials are using the home office introduced during the Corona period and are spending one day a week at home without a work computer and access to files.
Another problem is the high level of sick leave. More than 1,000 BND officials were absent for 30 or more days last year. That is twice as high as in the rest of the population; in 2022, employees in Germany were on sick leave for an average of 15 days. In addition, the rotation principle is causing frustration among employees, as specialists regularly have to take on tasks that do not correspond to their area of expertise.
The few employees with knowledge of Russian have to rotate and deal with other countries instead. The threat from Russia is considered to be particularly serious. A Russian attack on NATO allies could pose extreme challenges for the BND, as espionage would have to be geared more towards the interests of the Bundeswehr. There is also a risk of personnel losses, as many of the BND agents are also active soldiers who would be needed by the Bundeswehr in an emergency.
At the same time, recruiting new officials is also proving difficult. In March, the agency launched a major advertising campaign, for which 10,000 applicants applied. But since then, not a single person has been hired. This is due to the strict requirements. An application process takes 13 months and the applicants’ pasts are thoroughly examined, reports the Tagesspiegel. The process costs 100,000 euros per applicant. The failure rate at the highest level of security screening required for new spies is 40 percent.
Security experts are therefore expressing doubts about the BND’s resilience to crises. Military strategist Professor Matthias Strohn from Buckingham University told Bild: “The BND can only survive if the Americans and British feed it with information.” Politicians must not allow the agency to continue to vegetate, but must strengthen it.