page_title: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution
section_title: Organization
hierarchical_section_title: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution / Organization
caption_attribution_description: Bundesamt für VerfassungsschutzFotograf: A. Kirch
context_page_description: The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution is the Federal Republic of Germany's domestic security agency. Together with the Landesämter für Verfassungsschutz at the state level, it is tasked with intelligence-gathering on threats concerning the democratic order, the existence and security of the federation or one of its states, and the peaceful coexistence of peoples; with counter-intelligence; and with protective security and counter-sabotage.
  The BfV reports to the Federal Ministry of the Interior. The current President Thomas Haldenwang was appointed in 2018.
context_section_description: The BfV is based in Cologne. It is headed by a president (currently Thomas Haldenwang) and two vice-presidents (currently Ernst Stehl and Sinan Selen) and organised in eight departments:
  Department Z: Central Services
  Department IT: IT and operational intelligence technology
  Department 1: Basic Issues
  Department 2: Right-wing extremism/Terrorism
  Department 3: Central Operational Support
  Department 4: Counter-espionage, Personnel/Physical Security, Counter-sabotage and Protection Against Industrial Espionage
  Department 5: Extremism of foreigners and Left-wing extremism
  Department 6: Islamic extremism and terrorism
  In 2013 federal funding for the BfV was €207 million; with a total of 2,641 staff members employed.
caption: BfV headquarters in Cologne
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