What is the primary purpose of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)?

The primary purpose of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is criminal investigations. Established in 1908, the FBI serves as the principal investigative arm of the United States Department of Justice and functions as a key national security and criminal investigative agency. Its primary responsibilities include investigating and enforcing federal laws related to a wide range of criminal activities such as terrorism, cybercrime, public corruption, organized crime, and civil rights violations.

While the FBI also plays a role in civil rights enforcement and foreign intelligence gathering, these tasks are part of its broader mission, which is fundamentally centered around criminal investigations. Environmental protection does not fall under the FBI's purview, as that is typically managed by agencies specifically tasked with environmental issues, highlighting the focused nature of the FBI's mandate within federal law enforcement.