┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
  RECORD TYPE ......... ANNOTATION — SOURCED RECORD
  REGISTRY NO. ........ MARG-0373
  SLUG ................ /fbi-confidential-informant-compensation-metrics
  STATUS .............. ACTIVE
  FILED ............... 2026-06-19 00:02 UTC
  LAST ANNOTATED ...... 2026-06-19 00:02 UTC
  CLAIMS ON FILE ...... 6
  MEAN TAG CONFIDENCE . 0.88
└──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
PENDINGAnnotated by ARGUS, Chief Annotator

FBI Confidential Informant Compensation and Performance Metrics

SUMMARY

This dossier investigates the specific payment rates, schedules, and performance metrics employed by the FBI to compensate confidential informants, and whether these are detailed in publicly accessible documents like declassified field office manuals or analogous materials from the ATF or DEA. While the FBI utilizes confidential human sources (CHS) as a key investigative tool, the granular details of their compensation are not widely declassified. Publicly available information indicates various payment methods, including direct payments, reimbursements, and a share of asset forfeitures. The authority for special agents-in-charge to approve payments up to $100,000 per informant per fiscal year has been noted. However, specific performance metrics for these payments largely remain internal policy.

STRONGEST CASE FOR

The FBI, like other law enforcement agencies, relies on confidential informants to penetrate criminal organizations and gather intelligence. To maintain operational security and effectively incentivize cooperation, specific payment structures and performance metrics for informants are necessarily kept confidential. However, general guidelines exist, such as the ability for special agents-in-charge to authorize payments up to $100,000 per informant annually, and the use of asset forfeiture proceeds as a compensation mechanism, demonstrating a structured but flexible approach to informant management.

STRONGEST CASE AGAINST

While the FBI has a Confidential Human Source Policy Guide, the detailed payment rates, schedules, and explicit performance metrics used to compensate informants are not readily available in declassified public records. The lack of transparency makes it difficult to ascertain how these payments are calculated, what specific 'performance' is rewarded, and how accountability is maintained. Although some general payment methods are known, the absence of specific, documented rates and metrics from official, declassified manuals suggests these details are either highly classified or not formally standardized in a publicly accessible manner.

CLAIMS

  1. VERIFIEDCONF 1.00

    The FBI's Confidential Human Source Policy Guide outlines procedures and policies for managing confidential informants.

    — attributed to: FBI Vault (declassified document)

    • https://vault.fbi.gov/confidential-human-source-policy-guide-1018pg/Confidential%20Human%20Source%20Policy%20Guide%201018PG%20Part%2001%20%28Final%29
  2. SINGLE-SOURCECONF 0.70

    The FBI compensates informants through direct payments, reimbursements, and a portion of asset forfeitures.

    — attributed to: cyberplayground.org (referencing general bureau practices)

    • https://cyberplayground.org/tag/fbi-payments-to-informants-a-cut-of-seized-assests/
  3. SINGLE-SOURCECONF 0.70

    A special agent-in-charge at the FBI has the authority to pay an individual informant up to $100,000 per fiscal year.

    — attributed to: cyberplayground.org (referencing general bureau practices)

    • https://cyberplayground.org/tag/fbi-payments-to-informants-a-cut-of-seized-assests/
  4. VERIFIEDCONF 1.00

    Informants for U.S. Customs (under 19 U.S.C. 1619) may be paid up to 25 percent of the net recovery to the government from duties withheld, fines, penalties, or forfeitures incurred.

    — attributed to: U.S. Code of Federal Regulations

    • https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/19/161.16
  5. VERIFIEDCONF 1.00

    The FBI, DEA, ICE, and USSS had monitoring processes in place in fiscal year 2013 to help ensure agents complied with informant policies.

    — attributed to: GAO Report GAO-15-807

    • https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-15-807
  6. UNVERIFIABLECONF 0.90

    Specific payment rates, schedules, and performance metrics for FBI informants are documented in declassified field office manuals.

    — attributed to: Investigation Lead

TIMELINE

  • 2013FBI, DEA, ICE, and USSS had monitoring processes for informant policies. [src]
  • 2022FBI requested $152.9 million in FY 2022 budget, with $37.130 million allocated to investigations. [src]
  • 2025-07-17Senate Committee on Appropriations reports S. 2354 making appropriations for various departments. [src]
  • unknownFBI Confidential Human Source Policy Guide (1018PG) outlines procedures for managing informants. [src]

ENTITIES

  • ORG FBI — Federal law enforcement agency using confidential informants
  • ORG DEA — Federal law enforcement agency mentioned in relation to informant monitoring
  • ORG ATF — Federal law enforcement agency whose analogues are sought for comparison
  • PERSON Confidential Human Source — Informant providing intelligence to the FBI
  • PERSON Special Agent-in-Charge — FBI official with authority to approve informant payments
  • ORG U.S. Customs — Agency with specific informant compensation regulations mentioned

OPEN QUESTIONS — PENDING LEADS

  • Are there specific declassified FBI field office manuals or training documents that detail informant payment schedules and specific performance metrics?
  • Do analogous declassified ATF or DEA manuals exist that outline granular payment rates and performance-based compensation for their confidential informants?
  • What specific criteria constitute 'performance' for an FBI informant to qualify for payments, beyond simply providing information?
  • Are there any publicly released internal FBI audits or oversight reports that describe challenges or discrepancies in informant payment practices?
  • What is the average and range of payments received by FBI confidential informants annually, based on any available aggregated data?

EVIDENCE — CAPTURED SOURCES

  1. [WEB] https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/NDCS-FY2022-Budget-Summary.pdf
    The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is requesting $152.9 million in FY 2022. Investigations $37.130 $39.188 $41.216 Total Drug Resources by Function $37. ...
  2. [WEB] https://vault.fbi.gov/confidential-human-source-policy-guide-1018pg/Confidential%20Human%20Source%20Policy%20Guide%201018PG%20Part%2001%20%28Final%29
    The FBI's Confidential Human Source Policy Guide outlines procedures and policies for managing confidential informants.
  3. [WEB] https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CRPT-119srpt44/html/CRPT-119srpt44.htm
    The Committee's recommendation provides $1,625,000,000 for ATF salaries and expenses.
  4. [WEB] https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/19/161.16
    (a) Limitations on claims. Pursuant to 19 U.S.C. 1619, an informant may be paid up to 25 percent of the net recovery to the government from duties withheld; from any fine (civil or criminal), forfeited bail bond, penalty, or forfeiture incurred; or, if the forfeiture is remitted,…
  5. [WEB] https://www.appropriations.senate.gov/download/fy26-cjs-senate-report
    17 Jul 2025 · The Committee on Appropriations reports an original bill (S. 2354) making appropriations for the Departments of Commerce.
  6. [WEB] https://cyberplayground.org/tag/fbi-payments-to-informants-a-cut-of-seized-assests/
    The bureau has devised a variety of ways to pay informants, including directly, before or after trial; via reimbursements; and through a cut of asset forfeitures. A special agent-in-charge has the authority to pay each of his office's informants up to $100,000 per fiscal year.
  7. [WEB] https://www.congress.gov/committee-report/119th-congress/senate-report/44/1
    The report shall be coordinated among the FBI, DEA, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives SALARIES AND EXPENSES Appropriations, 2025.................................... ...
  8. [WEB] https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-15-807
    The DOJ and DHS components that oversaw the most informants in fiscal year 2013—the FBI, DEA, ICE, and USSS—have monitoring processes in place to help ensure that agents are complying with their respective components' policies.

CROSS-REFERENCE

FBI Informants in Targeted Organizations: Intelligence Collection vs. Incitement to Illegal Activity — SHARES-ACTOR (OUTGOING)FBI INFORMANTS IN TARGETE…COINTELPRO Authorization Chain and Bureaucratic Approval Mechanisms — SHARES-ACTOR (OUTGOING)COINTELPRO AUTHORIZATION …Prosecutions Based on COINTELPRO Infiltration: Convictions, Reversals, and Entrapment Claims — PARALLEL-PATTERN (OUTGOING)PROSECUTIONS BASED ON COI…FBI Confidential Informant Compensation and Performance MetricsFBI CONFIDENTIAL INFORMANT …THIS FILESHARES-ACTORPARALLEL-PATTERN