Supervisor involved: Intelligence service is in crisis

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The Federal Intelligence Service (NDB) is worrying Minister of Defense Viola Amherd (61). However, the problem is self-inflicted. The new NDB boss Christian Dussey (59) is taking full control of the secret service on behalf of Amherd. Management employees had to reapply for their jobs. There are virtually no employees left who are still in their original position, with the correct training period. This creates uncertainty. There were many layoffs. There is great dissatisfaction among those who remain.

The independent supervisory authority of the intelligence service (AB-ND) also noticed this. There are some serious shortcomings in human resource management and leadership. In recent years, the government has not always been able to perform fully. “I have the impression that it was very difficult for the NDB to be fit on all fronts,” AB-ND leader Prisca Fischer told the media on Tuesday. The intelligence service has had to contend with internal problems for far too long.

The supervisor hopes for improvement

“The resources were too weak,” Fischer said. The regulator found significant errors in the NDB’s personnel files. There is now an increase in the resources of the supporting agencies in the NDB. This process takes time. “It doesn’t look that bad now – let’s hope that’s enough.” The AB-ND wants to continue to pay attention to personnel safety; correct recruitment, support and exit processes are necessary so that the NDB can correctly implement the transformation.

The regulator’s 2023 activity report states that several recommendations have been made regarding documentation in personnel files, conducting employee interviews and employee reviews, and determining the process for clarifying employees in particularly critical situations. The Ministry of Defense is responsible for implementing the recommendations.

The transformation of the intelligence service is also a challenge for surveillance, Fischer said. Many positions at all levels of the hierarchy have been filled. There are new contacts. She must “work very hard to accept the supervision”. Overall, the regulator believes that the reorganization within the NDB is necessary, Fischer said. “There is no backup solution.”

Security risks such as betrayal, data theft or espionage

In recent months, a number of criticisms have been leveled at the NDB’s personnel system. Internal documents show that employees do not have confidence in their leadership. Also in 2022 there were almost three times as many layoffs as usual. The NDB wants to counter this uncertainty: the board is in a transformation process that aims to clarify questions in the field of leadership, structures, working methods and personnel policy.

The problem seems to need to be solved urgently. The AB-ND writes in its activity report that employees can pose security risks such as betrayal, data theft or espionage for the NDB. Dissatisfied employees would be more likely to leave the service. These risks have increased in recent years.

However, the intelligence service believes that it is fundamentally prepared for this. The NDB recently stated that the authority has implemented internal security measures intended, for example, to prevent the leakage of classified information. (dba/SDA)

Source:Blick