On November 8, 2001, Attorney General John Ashcroft announced the FBI’s change in focus from prosecuting the perpetrators of 9/11 to preventing future attacks, and reorganized the Justice Department accordingly. He said: ” ‘When terrorism threatens our future, we cannot afford to live in the past. We must focus on our core mission and responsibilities, understanding that the [Justice] department will not be all things to all people. We cannot do everything we once did, because lives now depend on us doing a few things very well. …The attacks of September 11 have redefined the mission of the Department of Justice. …Defending our nation and defending the citizens of America against terrorist attacks is now our first and overriding priority.’ ”
– John Ashcroft, Never Again, Pages 135-136