The terrorist threat is persistent, dangerous, and ever-changing. It’s a challenge that requires the full force of American government and the vigilance of the people.
The FBI has a mission to protect the United States from terrorist attacks, deter and disrupt their plots in the United States, neutralize terror cells, and cut off funding. It has done so with remarkable success, but this effort must continue.
Terrorism threats evolve constantly, from large-group conspiracies to lone offenders. These actors radicalize online, mobilize to violence quickly, and are difficult for the FBI to detect and disrupt. The threat from lone offenders also highlights the need to bolster domestic counterterrorism efforts.
While the terrorism threat is global, it is particularly acute in areas of the world where AQ remains active, including al-Shabaab and its affiliated forces in Africa, Jama’at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin and other jihadist groups across Sub-Saharan Africa, and Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham/Al-Nusra in Syria. Likewise, the heightened security environment in Russia and Iran, and the ebbs and flows of geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, are important factors to consider.
In a polarized political environment, policymakers must remain vigilant in conveying the serious nature of the threat. This means ensuring that the intelligence community and FBI leadership are on the same page about the risk from international and domestic terrorism. To that end, congressional intelligence committees should hold unclassified hearings with the directors of the CIA, the NSA, and the FBI to solicit their candid assessments.
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