Justice officials to unveil plans for restructuring the FBI

Attorney General John Ashcroft and FBI Director Robert Mueller will hold a press briefing Wednesday to detail their plans for restructuring the FBI, an agency spokeswoman confirmed Tuesday.

Along with hiring new agents, the plan will call for 14 new sections to the counterterrorism division that will specialize in terrorism, technology, languages, intelligence gathering, cultures and other areas, according to news reports. Agents from the white-collar and anti-drug divisions may be reassigned to counter-terrorism operations.

Mueller has said reforms will emphasize replacing outdated technology and computers.

Reports also say that a new Office of Intelligence will be formed and have sweeping investigative authority not covered by the CIA.

The FBI also plans to create a new cyber division and to establish new regional computer-forensic labs. It also may build a new investigative technology division to focus on electronic surveillance of potential terrorists.

Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, a member of the Judiciary Committee, said the FBI restructuring effort must go beyond creating new offices and shifting divisions.

"Director Mueller needs to reorganize and reform the FBI," Grassley said in a statement, "but he has to fix the root of the problem: the bureau's cultural problems with preventing crimes, putting image over substance and cooperating with other agencies. Making technology and intelligence analysis priorities are no-brainers, but a new organization chart alone won't work."