The FBI has wasted $170 million on new computer software that doesn’t work.

Meant to manage case files and speed the sharing of information among agents, the new network is an essential part of the FBI’s modernization, which has included adding 30,000 new computers in field offices.

But the system designed to tie all the agency’s information together is a failure. As the Los Angeles Times first reported last week, the FBI now is spending an additional $2 million on a consultant in the hopes of saving some part of the software, which is called the “virtual case file.”

Why can’t the FBI pull this off?

The CIA and National Security Agency have secure computer networks that allow their offices and agents to share information through secure connections. With online banking, customers can pay bills, transfer money between accounts and apply for loans – all in a secure environment. Even ATM transactions, at thousands of remote locations, are able to transfer sensitive information. But the FBI can’t manage to build an integrated database to allow its agents to quickly share information.

The inability to share information between field offices was identified as a significant threat to national security by the Sept. 11 commission. This problem with technology predates the 2001 terrorist attacks.

The FBI has been slow to modernize its operations. Too much of the agency is still driven by pen, paper and fax machine, but there has been progress. Congress has spent more than $580 million to update the FBI’s technology, and things are much better now than they have been. But the failure is a major setback, and members of Congress are rightfully concerned about the flop of the virtual case file software. They have called for an investigation by the Government Accountability Office.

Now, beyond the money that has been misspent, the focus must be on getting it right. The FBI is called upon to do a difficult job against a dangerous enemy, which seems to have no problem using technology to share information.

The FBI can’t be allowed to bungle this any longer.