June 26, 1999
Web posted at: 1:30 p.m. EDT (1730 GMT)

From Justice Correspondent Pierre Thomas

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Under intense pressure from congressional Republicans over allegations of Chinese espionage, FBI officials are planning a number of major changes to their program against spying, government sources have told CNN.

The FBI plans to separate its counterintelligence and counterterrorism programs, with the goal of focusing more senior FBI management on preventing espionage against the United States.

The proposal would keep both offices within the national security division. The plan is awaiting White House approval.

Senior law enforcement officials told CNN that FBI officials are worried that the focus on acts of terrorism often overshadows espionage concerns.

Under another proposal, the FBI also is developing plans to create a new section to combat Chinese espionage. The new section would be similar in structure to the current FBI section assigned to counter Russian espionage efforts.

In addition, FBI field offices with nuclear labs and other sensitive facilities in their region would assign agents to monitor security and allegations of security breaches.

The FBI is facing intense scrutiny as Congress continues to review a variety of allegations of security breaches at U.S. nuclear labs. Critics have questioned how the bureau handled reports of Chinese spying at at U.S. nuclear laboratories.

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