The FBI's searches, some of which were deemed to be improper in the past, were a flashpoint in a months-long fight in Congress over the reauthorization of Section 702 of FISA.

The number of FBI queries of what the report terms “U.S. persons” from December 2022 to November 2023 fell to 57,094 from 119,383 in the previous year, according to the Annual Statistical Transparency Report, which is issued by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.

“These reductions occurred following a number of changes FBI made to its systems, processes, and training relating to U.S. person queries,” the report said.

A senior Department of Justice official who briefed reporters on Tuesday said this year’s total figure did not specify how many queries may have been improper, but said the Justice Department was conducting regular audits of the bureau’s queries.