German Cabinet Approves Sweeping New Powers for Intelligence Agencies

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German Cabinet Approves Sweeping New Powers for Intelligence Agencies

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Germany’s cabinet has approved a major reform package aimed at significantly expanding the powers of its intelligence services, the Federal Intelligence Service (BND) and the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV). The decision, made on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, is a response to heightened concerns over terrorism, espionage, cyberattacks, and “hybrid threats” from foreign powers, particularly following Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

The proposed overhaul, considered the most extensive in the BND’s 70-year history, will grant agents new operational capabilities. These include the authority to carry guns, conduct sabotage abroad, and spread disinformation. The BND will be able to engage in more proactive operations, such as sabotaging weapons production where a concrete threat exists and operating with greater leeway in cyberspace. The BfV, the domestic intelligence agency, will also see expanded powers, including the ability to install and use sensors in private homes under certain conditions.

Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt emphasized that these measures would “revolutionize Germany’s security architecture,” noting that the agencies would, for the first time, be given operational powers beyond intelligence gathering and analysis. Nina Warken, Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s chief of staff, highlighted Germany’s current reliance on allied intelligence services and the need for its own agencies to be competitive with international partners.

The legislative package, which is over 700 pages long, also includes provisions for enhanced data collection and analysis, leveraging artificial intelligence, and allowing for longer data retention periods. While the reforms aim to strengthen Germany’s national security, some civil liberties groups and opposition figures, such as Konstantin von Notz of the Greens party, have expressed concerns regarding the expanded powers, particularly for the domestic security service. The legislation still requires approval from the Bundesrat and Bundestag, with a potential effective date in 2027.

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