On Feb. 11, 1987, the Federal Bureau of Investigation publicly acknowledged serious deficiencies in its use and oversight of secret informants. The admission followed internal reviews and external criticism that identified failures in record-keeping, supervision, and the assessment of informant reliability. While the bureau did not characterize the problem as universal across all field offices, officials acknowledged that lapses had led to compromised investigations and increased risk to agents, informants and the public. Context and causes The 1980s were a period of intense investigative activity for the FBI, with expanded efforts against organized crime, drug trafficking and political violence. The bureau’s reliance on confidential human sources (CHSs) grew accordingly. Oversight systems that had been adequate for smaller operations were strained by higher volume and complexity. Reports from internal audits and inspector-general inquiries pointed to inconsistent documentation of payments, inadequate monitoring of informant behavior, and insufficient clearance of informants who had criminal backgrounds or ongoing loyalties to targets. Specific problems cited Reviews identified several recurring problems: informants were sometimes recruited without thorough vetting; handlers failed to update or corroborate information from sources; payments and benefits were not always appropriately recorded or justified; and supervisors did not consistently review informant files or field activity reports. In some cases, plaintiffs and defense attorneys later argued that undisclosed informant relationships had affected prosecutions, though outcomes varied by case. Institutional response Following the acknowledgement, the FBI announced steps to strengthen policies and oversight. Reforms included more rigorous guidelines for vetting and approving CHSs, clearer rules for documenting payments and handling conflicts of interest, and enhanced supervisory review of informant files. The bureau also emphasized improved training for case agents and field supervisors to ensure consistent application of the rules. Public and legal repercussions The admission fueled scrutiny from Congress, defense attorneys and civil liberties groups. In several judicial proceedings, defense teams pressed for disclosure of informant-related evidence and for remedies where nondisclosure or misconduct was alleged. Congressional hearings sought to evaluate whether statutory or administrative changes were needed to ensure accountability and protect civil rights while preserving legitimate investigative uses of informants. Longer-term implications The 1987 acknowledgements helped prompt institutional changes that influenced how the FBI managed confidential sources in subsequent decades. They contributed to a broader push for internal accountability mechanisms, more detailed record-keeping and clearer guidelines balancing investigative necessity with legal and ethical obligations. Nonetheless, debates over the use of confidential informants—about transparency, reliability and civil liberties—persisted and resurfaced in later oversight reviews. Limitations and sources This summary synthesizes widely reported developments and published oversight findings from that period. Specific case outcomes and internal deliberations varied by field office and individual matter; where details remain contested or legally sensitive, this account notes general patterns rather than asserting uniform practices across the bureau.