A recent report from the House Homeland Security Committee highlights a concerning rise in terrorist activity and threats, both domestically and internationally. Chairman Mark Green emphasized that "national security blunders" over the past four years have emboldened foreign terrorist organizations and fueled homegrown violent extremism. The committee's updated Terror Threat Snapshot assessment underscores these dangers, focusing on the persistent threat of homegrown extremists inspired by groups like ISIS.
The report comes on the heels of a deadly attack in New Orleans on New Year's Day, where a U.S. military veteran drove a truck into a crowd, killing 14 people in an ISIS-inspired act of terrorism. Rep. Green called the attack "a stark reminder that the terror threat to America is alive and persistent." The report details over 50 jihadist-related incidents across 30 states between April 2021 and January 2025, including attempts to provide material support to ISIS, Hizballah, and al Qaeda, as well as instances of individuals receiving military-style training from these groups.
The report catalogs a series of alarming terrorist-related incidents and arrests since 2021, including the attack in New Orleans. Rep. August Pfluger, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence, stressed the urgent need to address these threats and reinforce homeland security, noting that Americans have become targets of terror at public events, while ISIS and al Qaeda have gained strength in various regions globally.
The committee also pointed to the rising threat of vehicle-ramming attacks, similar to the one in New Orleans. Victims of the attack have filed lawsuits against the city for negligence, citing prior warnings about the potential for such an attack on Bourbon Street. One lawsuit alleges that the city failed to address known security vulnerabilities, including inadequate bollards, despite recommendations in a 2017 report highlighting the risk of terrorist attacks in popular tourist areas.
A 2019 report, obtained by Fox News, further warned that Bourbon Street was a prime target for a terrorist attack, criticizing the ineffective bollard system. The FBI's investigation confirms that the New Orleans attacker was motivated by ISIS ideology. He had previously visited the city twice and had also traveled to Cairo and Toronto before the attack. The investigation is ongoing to determine if he had any accomplices.
