Domestic terrorism in the united states. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the .

• Domestic terrorism in the united states. Studies have looked at the similarities and differences between radicalization to violent domestic ideologies and radicalization to foreign extremist ideologies. 13224, see the U. Transnational Terrorism, Security, and the Rule of Law (TTSRL, 2013) stated that 80% of lone wolf terrorism attacks in the United States have come from within. All but eight states across the U. worsens, domestic terrorism normalizes and legitimizes violence as a tool to address political or social grievances. This special retrospective issue of "Terrorism in the United States" summarizes terrorism-related activity in 1999 and presents an overview of U. Dec 5, 2019 · And are more terrorist attacks happening now than ever? Here are some key questions and answers related to national security and terrorism in the United States. The fourth section analyzes terrorist tactics and Why GAO Did This Study Domestic terrorism investigations have more than doubled since 2020, according to the FBI. Domestic Terrorism National Security Division U. For the agencies and organizations tasked with protecting the homeland a bevy of issues accompany combatting domestic terrorism. Trump and his backers challenged the results, citing unproven claims of voter fraud. The number of fatalities from domestic terrorism today is relatively low, and the possibility of a civil war—which some experts have worried about and some extremists have predicted—is negligible. Although much of the focus is Jul 14, 2025 · Domestic Extremism Tracker The domestic extremism tracker provides an overview of criminal cases related to a range of domestic extremist groups and ideologies in the United States. cities between extremists from opposing sides, a major break from historical trends. One key statute, 18 U. We begin with the most basic: terminology. The War Comes Home: The Evolution of Domestic Terrorism in the United States It is easy to imagine that U. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) defines domestic terrorism as violent, criminal acts which are committed by individuals and/or groups in order to further ideological goals stemming from domestic influences, such as those of a political, religious, social, racial, or environmental nature. 727, provided that: "Except for paragraphs (1) (D) and (2) (B) of section 2339C (b) of title 18, United States Code, which shall become effective on the date that the International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism enters into force for the United States They distinguish domestic terrorism from hate crimes and examine societal perceptions of the severity of each. states. DHS is responsible for producing terrorist threat information in coordination Apr 12, 2021 · Domestic terrorism incidents have soared to new highs in the United States, driven chiefly by white-supremacist, anti-Muslim and anti-government extremists on the far right, according to a Aug 16, 2017 · Other research on home-grown terrorism The think tank New America has compiled information on terrorist activities in the United States after 9/11. Since the strategy’s launch in June 2021, we have sharpened our understanding of the domestic terrorism threat, increased information sharing with state, local, Tribal, and territorial law enforcement and foreign partners, doubled our investigations into In general statutory terms, a domestic terrorist engages in terrorist activity that occurs in the United States. The first outlines the contours of domestic terrorism and highlights the data set compiled by analysts at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). Apr 16, 2013 · According to the report, lone-wolf violence is on the rise, but "it is difficult for authorities to determine whether such an act of violence falls under the legal definition of "˜domestic Jun 1, 2022 · Domestic Terrorism Domestic terrorism (DT) differs from other criminal activity in key ways. Executive Order 13224 gives the U. ” The threat from domestic terrorism in the United States is serious and continues to evolve Aug 29, 2019 · While the United States fought wars in the mountains and valleys of Afghanistan and in the cities and sands of Iraq, as a part of the Global War on Terrorism, it is “quite clear that domestic terrorists … remain a clear and present danger here inside the US. National security officials must distinguish between terrorist activities carried out by lone wolves and those carried out by terrorist networks for effective intervention and potential prevention. currently have the crime of Jun 17, 2021 · On June 15, 2021, the Biden administration released the United States’ first-ever National Strategy for Countering Domestic Terrorism, which culminated the 100-day review of U. We found ways the strategy could be more effective. L. Several people died, but the… Jun 22, 2025 · Summary of the Threat to the United States The ongoing Iran conflict is causing a heightened threat environment in the United States. May 8, 2019 · We anticipate racial minorities, the United States government, and law enforcement will continue to be significant targets for many domestic terrorists. M ilitant, nationalistic, white supremacist violent extremism has increased in the United States. Oct 21, 2024 · The number of U. Though there is little case law, this provision has been interpreted to require only a minimal international nexus. The offense is a Class 2 felony, punishable by up For a current list, updated regularly, of terrorists and groups identified under E. Executive Summary Since its founding in 2012, the National Institute of Justice’s Domestic Radicalization to Terrorism program has sponsored research on how radicalization to terrorism occurs in the United States in order to support prevention and intervention efforts. domestic terrorist attacks and plots against government targets motivated by partisan political beliefs in the past five years is nearly triple the number of such incidents in the previous 25 years combined, according to new CSIS analysis. In fact, the number of far-right attacks continues to outpace all other types of terrorism and domestic violent extremism. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the This 2nd edition of "Terrorism" provides an overview of the public record terrorist incidents having taken place in the United States and its territories from 2002 to 2005. Variations in terminology – such as the interchanging use of domestic Jul 11, 2025 · The 1995 Oklahoma City bombing was the deadliest domestic extremist attack in the United States with *** fatalities. ” Violent extremism is a major concern for law enforcement at all levels in the United States. The FBI must be able to identify, assess, and respond to potential threats, and requires these resources to address them. Importantly, unlike most offenders—who may be driven by self-centered motives—domestic terrorists are driven by a cause or ideology. Terrorists are those who support or commit ideologically motivated violence to further political, social or religious goals. experienced at least one incident of domestic terrorism between 2010 and 2021. C. Because Domestic terrorism is not a new threat in the United States, yet it is a threat Americans have endured too often in recent years. This decline is likely the result of a decrease in the Islamic State’s ability to inspire violence rather than a loss of operational support from international terrorist organizations, as direct Islamic State support for attacks in the United States was lacking Jan 12, 2023 · A bulletin from June 2022 and attached to the report says the domestic violent extremist landscape in the United States is "evolving" and centers around "ideological and sociopolitical" grievances 1970 and domestic deaths and moreCollectively, 2013. ” The threat from domestic terrorism in the United States is serious and continues to evolve. The Biden administration's domestic counterterrorism strategy is Jan 3, 2025 · Recent vehicle attacks in New Orleans and Las Vegas underscore persistent terrorist threats in the United States. In the United States, it is estimated that 275 individuals have been convicted of terrorism-related charges since the September 11 terrorist attacks. As this testimony highlights, objective analysis and Map of 2,872 terrorist incidents in the contiguous United States from 1970 to 2017. Donald Trump stormed the building as Congress was in the process of certifying Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 presidential election. Apr 11, 2021 · Domestic terrorism poses a unique challenge to the US government. Jun 22, 2025 · The National Terrorism Advisory System (NTAS) is designed to communicate information about terrorist threats by providing timely, detailed information to the American public. The FBI and DHS rely on statutory and regulatory definitions to identify incidents as DT or individuals as domestic terrorists. Thirty-two states and Washington D. In recent years, the use and content of these state terrorism laws have witnessed a significant shift, raising new threats to First Amendment rights. A “domestic violent extremist” (DVE) is defined as an individual based and operating primarily within the United States or its territories without direction or inspiration from a foreign A “domestic violent extremist” (DVE) is defined as an individual based and operating primarily within the United States or its territories without direction or inspiration from a foreign Jun 11, 2025 · Chairman Pfluger also reintroduced the “ Countering Online Radicalization and Terrorism Act,” legislation requiring DHS to conduct annual assessments on terrorism threats posed to the United States by terrorist organizations like ISIS, al Qaeda, Hamas, Hezbollah, and others, utilizing foreign cloud-based mobile and desktop messaging Feb 22, 2023 · Why GAO Did This Study Domestic terrorism investigations have more than doubled since 2020, according to the FBI. government efforts to respond to domestic extremism that President Biden ordered in January. All Americans share responsibility for the nation's security, and should always be aware of the heightened risk of terrorist attack in the United States and what they should do. Is "domestic terrorism" a federal Domestic Terrorism: Activities that involve acts dangerous to human life that are a violation of the criminal laws of the United States or of any State; appear to be intended to intimidate or coerce a civilian population, to influence the policy of a government by intimidation or coercion, or to affect the conduct of a government by mass destruction, assassination, or kidnapping; and occur Jun 17, 2020 · The United States faces a growing terrorism problem that will likely worsen in the next year, particularly around the 2020 presidential election. Apr 29, 2018 · Lone wolf terrorism has received considerable media attention, yet this phenomenon has not been sufficiently examined in an academic study. Most domestic terrorist attacks in the United States are carried out by lone actors or small groups who believe in a wide range of ideologies, such as white supremacy, partisan extremism, and Salafi-jihadism. Jan 2, 2024 · Countering and preventing terrorism is a primary concern for state and local law enforcement agencies as well as the federal government. Jan 4, 2024 · Over the past 20 years, the body of research that examines terrorism and domestic violent extremism has grown exponentially. These projects have taken a variety of approaches to examining the process of radicalization to terrorism, but in spite of We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. Both domestic violent extremists (DVEs) and those associated with foreign terrorist organizations continue to Second, there was a rise in the number of terrorist plots and attacks in 2020, despite a relatively low number of fatalities. For example, it doesn't clarify which Consistent with Congressional direction, as of December 2022, NCTC has limited its work to the transnational and international dimensions of the terrorism threat against the United States. Further, 21 states and DC criminalize assisting or supporting terrorism, while 25 states have a separate crime of terroristic threat. According to TTSRL (2013), lone wolf terrorism is more widespread in the United States than in other countries, with U. Rosenau notes that while terrorism is perceived as the more critical threat, Americans are more likely to be a victim of a hate crime. infrastructure is vulnerable to attacks by domestic extremists. We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. 54 The United States has endured more violent periods in the past. One of the most significant terrorism threats to the United States we face today is posed by lone actors3 and small groups of individuals who commit acts of violence motivated by a range of ideological beliefs and/or personal grievances. Mayorkas told senators on Wednesday that the greatest domestic threat facing the United States came from what they The FBI requests funding and personnel to effectively counter the increasing incidents of Domestic Terrorism occurring across the United States. The most significant threat likely comes from white supremacists, though anarchists and religious extremists could also pose a threat. May 17, 2022 · The Issue There has been a significant rise in the number of domestic terrorist attacks and plots at demonstrations in the United States, according to new CSIS data. Government and partners to understand and share domestic terrorism-related information; prevent domestic terrorism recruitment and mobilization to violence; disrupt and deter domestic terrorism Feb 27, 2025 · As required by the National Defense Authorization Act, the Department of Homeland Security and FBI, in consultation with the Director of National Intelligence, have produced this strategic intelligence assessment on domestic terrorism, which includes a discussion of activities, certain data on domestic terrorism matters, and recommendations. authorities have the tools to stop it. Mar 6, 2024 · Each time America faces a case of domestic terrorism, it shocks the country. Here are some of the most notable cases of mass murder in the country's history. Terrorism Database (GTD) contains information international on more than terrorist attacks that occurred in the United States between more research highlight in occurred than between and 266,000 Overall Attack Trends From 1970 resulting Approximately 2,600terrorist attacks took place in the The threat posed by international and domestic threat actors has evolved significantly since 9/11. This thesis contends that the domestic terrorism threat in the United States is t as international terrorism, if not more, and t e and requires repair. Feb 17, 2022 · Thursday, February 17, 2022 Virtual Chairwoman Jackson Lee, Ranking Member Biggs, and distinguished Members of the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security, thank you for the opportunity to testify before the Subcommittee on “The Rise in Violence Against Minority Institutions. Additionally, it ou enhance domestic counterterrorism efforts. A “domestic violent extremist” (DVE) is defined as an individual based and operating primarily within the United States or its territories without direction or inspiration from a foreign To counter terrorism, the FBI's top investigative priority, we use our investigative and intelligence capabilities to neutralize domestic extremists and help dismantle terrorist networks worldwide. gov Phone: 202-514-2007 INTRODUCTION Domestic terrorism is not a new threat in the United States. First, the Code of Federal Regulations characterizes terrorism as including "the unlawful Mar 28, 2025 · In 2025, domestic terrorism represents a greater threat to the United States than do international terrorist organizations. Department of the Treasury Specially Designated Nationals List (SDN)» Then-President Bush signed Executive Order 13224 on September 23, 2001. Both incidents, though likely unrelated, were premeditated and suggest political motives, raising public anxiety about safety and security. S. Foreign intelligence threats involve other countries collecting information to disrupt U. May 20, 2011 · Table 7 presents the mean and median number of injuries by tactic used in international and domestic terrorist attacks against the United States from 2001 to 2009. The FBI generally relies on two fundamental sources to define DT. O. 107–197, title II, §203, June 25, 2002, 116 Stat. Aug 6, 2024 · Since the September 11 attacks, domestic terrorism has surpassed international terrorism as the most significant threat to the United States homeland. Select the images of suspects to display more information. Jun 27, 2023 · Two years ago this month, the Biden-Harris Administration released the first-ever National Strategy for Countering Domestic Terrorism. Over the past year, both domestic violent extremists (DVEs) and homegrown violent extremists (HVEs) inspired by foreign terrorist organizations have May 24, 2023 · Summary of Terrorism-Related Threat to the United States The United States remains in a heightened threat environment. federal law defines “domestic terrorism,” it does not make domestic terror-ism a separate federal crime. As required by the National Defense Authorization Act, the FBI and Department of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Director of National Intelligence, have produced this strategic In addition, terrorist threats to the United States come from lone actors – citizens who travel overseas and join forces with extremists; individuals radicalized in the United States; those inspired to violence by harmful foreign ideologies; and domestic violent extremists motivated by racial and ethnic bias, anti-government or anti-authority . Terminology There is no universally agreed upon definition of domestic terrorism. government functions, influence foreign policy, steal technology and trade secrets, and undertake other activities to harm the United States. Aug 10, 2019 · The deadly shooting in El Paso is being treated as a "domestic terrorism" case, prosecutors there said. Jan 18, 2023 · Attacks on local energy grids in the United States reveal that U. This page contains current NTAS advisories Mar 12, 2025 · Domestic, meaning social or political objectives influence the attacks in the terrorist’s home country. Finally, the thesis concludes with a question tion: Should the federal government establish a new a As required by the National Defense Authorization Act, the FBI and Department of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Director of National Intelligence, have produced this strategic occur primarily outside the territorial jurisdiction of the United States, or transcend national boundaries in terms of the means by which they are accomplished, the persons they appear intended to intimidate or coerce, or the locale in which their perpetrators operate or seek asylum; Sep 14, 2023 · The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released the 2024 Homeland Threat Assessment, which continues to identify a high risk of foreign and domestic terrorism in 2024. public@usdoj. And over the last 10 years, domestic terrorism-related investigations have grown by 357%. Terrorism represents a continuing threat to the United States and a formidable challenge to the FBI. Aug 6, 2019 · The El Paso mass shooting and other attacks deemed "domestic terrorism" have renewed questions about the threat and whether U. Since 1990, far-right extremists have committed far more ideologically motivated homicides than far-left or radical Islamist extremists, including 227 events that took more We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. 2331, provides specific definitions for domestic and international terrorism, which influence how law enforcement agencies investigate and prosecute such crimes. The comprehensive strategy provides a nationwide framework for the U. 1 Instead, the crime of domestic terrorism in the United States, where it exists, falls under a patchwork of state domestic terrorism statutes that vary considerably across the country. As this testimony highlights, objective analysis and better data are particularly important to gauge the nature of the threat and effective responses. The mere advocacy of political or social positions Oct 2, 2024 · War in the Middle East and political extremism within the United States mean there is a high threat of terrorism within the nation, the Department of Homeland Security announced Wednesday. Aug 4, 2023 · According to the FBI, domestic terrorism encompasses violent, criminal acts that individuals and/or groups use to further their ideological goals from political, social, racial, or environmental influences within the country’s borders. FBI has lead responsibility for federal domestic terrorism investigations and domestic intelligence efforts. The goal of NIJ’s work on domestic radicalization and violent extremism is to provide community leaders with evidence-based Dec 1, 2015 · This briefing paper restricts itself to an analysis of the history, ideology, and evolving methods of the radical far right in the United States; it is for others to determine how each attack fits into or deviates from pre-existing patterns. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, which May 12, 2021 · Attorney General Merrick B. Jul 30, 2020 · With rising concerns about domestic terrorism, this analysis examines trends in terrorist tactics and targets in the United States. The third assesses patterns in terrorist targets. They also review prevention and law enforcement responses to hate crimes and domestic terrorism. And the FBI said it has opened a "domestic terrorism" investigation into the July shooting In United States Capitol …Capitol was the scene of domestic terrorism when supporters of Pres. Oct 22, 2020 · Fortunately, there is some good news. Ithas, over centuries , taken many American lives and spilled much American blood especially in communities deliberately and viciously targeted on the basis of hatred and bigotry. The FBI and DHS define a Domestic Violent Extremist (DVE) as an individual based and operating primarily within the United States or its territories without direction or inspiration from a foreign terrorist group or other foreign power who seeks to further political or social goals wholly or in part through unlawful acts of force or violence. counterterrorism policy began as a response to the 9/11 attacks. -based extremist ideologies and movements—have killed American citizens and damaged property across the country. KEY: Orange: 2001–2017; Green: 1970–2000 Terrorism deaths in the United States In the United States, a common definition of terrorism is the systematic or threatened use of violence in order to create a general climate of fear to intimidate a population or government and thereby effect political, religious Mar 7, 2024 · Domestic Terrorism Offense Prohibits intentionally or knowingly committing a felony that involves the use of a deadly weapon or infliction of serious injury with the intent to influence state government policy or actions, substantially damage or interrupt public services, intimidate civilians, or further the goals of any terrorist organization. Illegal Drugs: Illegal drugs smuggled into and sold in the United States by transnational and domestic criminal actors continue to pose a lethal threat to communities in the United States. Jan 21, 2025 · Second, the lethality of jihadist terrorism in the United States has fallen since the territorial defeat of the Islamic State. Government a powerful tool to impede terrorist funding and is part of our national […] As of 2024, 32 states and Washington DC have a domestic terrorism law. As political polarization in the U. Oct 2, 2024 · Meanwhile, foreign terrorist organizations, including ISIS and al Qa’ida maintain their enduring intent to conduct or inspire attacks in the Homeland. Though galvanized by the Jan 3, 2025 · Domestic terrorism involves violence against the civilian population or infrastructure of a nation—often but not always by citizens of that nation and often with the intent to intimidate, coerce, or influence national policy. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the M ilitant, nationalistic, white supremacist violent extremism has increased in the United States. Mar 29, 2025 · Terrorism laws in the United States are shaped by federal statutes that define and categorize different types of terrorist activities. It compiles and analyzes an original CSIS data set of terrorist attacks in the United States between January 1, 1994, and May 8, 2020. Mar 28, 2021 · Recent attacks in the United States have reminded Americans of the lack of legislation and consensus concerning domestic terrorism. This trend indicates that terrorism is a growing problem in the United States; there were more terrorist plots and attacks in 2020 than in any year since the CSIS data set started in 1994. In 2021, over half of all domestic terrorist incidents occurred in the context of metropolitan Aug 3, 2021 · This testimony is divided into five sections. But efforts to stop terrorism have spanned modern American history—though who was designated a terrorist, and how seriously the threats were taken, shifted dramatically over time. Sep 5, 2024 · While there is no separate federal crime of “domestic terrorism” in the United States, there is a crime of domestic terrorism in many U. Dec 17, 2004 · Pub. This includes numerous domestic violent extremist (DVE) subsets, including Racially or Ethnically Motivated Violent Extremism (REMVE) and Anti-Government or Anti-Authority Violent Extremism (AGAAVE). Feb 17, 2022 · The threat from domestic terrorism in the United States is serious and continues to evolve, including the threat to minority populations. In response to this threat, the FBI has developed a broad-based counterterrorism program, based on robust investigations to disrupt terrorist activities, interagency cooperation, and effective warning. Garland and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro N. Since 1990, far-right extremists have committed far more ideologically motivated homicides than far-left or radical Islamist extremists, including 227 events that took more Apr 29, 2018 · Lone wolf terrorism has received considerable media attention, yet this phenomenon has not been sufficiently examined in an academic study. Most of these laws were enacted in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks and were relatively rarely enforced. Agencies have taken steps to implement 49 of the 58 activities we identified. Mar 2, 2023 · A 2018 attack on a Pittsburgh synagogue left 11 people dead. Low-level cyber attacks against US networks by pro-Iranian hacktivists are likely, and cyber actors affiliated with the Iranian government may conduct attacks against US networks. [21] Aug 29, 2024 · Executive Summary While U. Department of Justice 950 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington DC 20530 nsd. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the agency with lead responsibility for terrorism investigations at the federal level, generally relies on two definitions Briefly, another example of reform would be to amend § 2332b — terrorism transcending national boundaries — to include domestic terrorism. The International Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ICNL), where I work, released a new report on As required by the National Defense Authorization Act, the FBI and Department of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Director of National Intelligence, have developed standard definitions In this vein, the FBI and DHS use the term Domestic Violent Extremist (DVE) to describe an individual based and operating primarily within the territorial jurisdiction of the United States who Apr 9, 2025 · Domestic terrorism threats have increased in recent years. RAND addresses national security and critical infrastructure needs through objective research that helps government agencies prevent and mitigate terrorist activities TERRORISM In 2024, we expect the threat of violence from violent extremists radicalized in the United States will remain high but largely unchanged from the threat as described in the May 2023 National Threat Advisory System (NTAS) bulletin. Lone offenders and small groups motivated by a range of ideological beliefs and personal grievances continue to pose a persistent and lethal threat to the Homeland. attacks representing about 42% of all lone wolf attacks. The second section focuses on trends in domestic terrorist incidents and fatalities. Apr 19, 2025 · Thirty years ago, a former Army soldier committed the worst act of domestic terrorism in this country’s history: The bombing of the Alfred P. Aug 14, 2020 · By understanding disengagement and deradicalization, NIJ hopes to inform policy and practice around programming for those convicted of terrorist offenses in confinement as well as post-release. In 2021, the White House issued the National Strategy for Countering Domestic Terrorism, which tasked multiple federal agencies with actions to address these threats. FBI and DHS are the main federal entities charged with preventing terrorist attacks in the U. What is counterterrorism? Counterterrorism is the set of policies and actions—including intelligence collection and Oct 13, 2021 · Virtual Chairman Takano, Ranking Member Bost, and distinguished Members of the Committee, thank you for the opportunity to testify before the Committee on Veteran’s Affairs on “Violent Domestic Extremist Groups and the Recruitment of Veterans. The result is escalating violence in U. -based terrorism during the past three decades, along with the development of the FBI's response to terrorism in America. However, in the last decade, domestic terrorists—people who commit crimes within the homeland and draw inspiration from U. pwbjjo gstj wgr rutsa itzz xif twslwk rsdtiazgk idqybx qetu