From the U.S. Government Accountability Office, www.gao.gov

Transcript for: Improving the National Strategy to Fight Domestic
Terrorism Could Save Lives

Description: In June 2021, the White House National Security Council
released a strategy aimed to address domestic terrorism. Such terrorism
continues to be an escalating threat. 

GAO reviewed the strategy and related documents, analyzed NSC
information, and interviewed officials from eight federal agencies. GAO
also interviewed nonfederal partners and Joint Terrorism Task Force
personnel in seven geographically dispersed states that had experience
with domestic terrorism incidents, as well as 12 domestic terrorism
experts. 

This report examines, among other things, steps agencies have taken to
implement the strategy, the extent to which the strategy includes
desirable characteristics for an effective national strategy; and
challenges identified by federal and nonfederal partners implementing
the strategy. 

Related GAO Works: GAO-25-107030, Domestic Terrorism: Additional Actions
Needed to Implement an Effective National Strategy

Released: April 2025


[ START ]


[ Triana McNeil: ]

There is a problem of domestic terrorism in this country.


[ Text On-Screen: ]

THERE IS A PROBLEM OF DOMESTIC TERRORISM


[ Narrator: ]

The National Security Council created a strategy to prevent it. Is it
working? Could it be improved?

Today we speak with Triana McNeil about her recent report covering
domestic terrorism. And she tells us what it is, where it's working and
how it could be improved.


[ Text On-Screen: ]

IS IT WORKING?

GAO DIRECTOR TIANA MCNEIL

NATIONAL STRATEGY ON DOMESTIC TERRORISM


[ Interviewer, GAO, speaking: ]

As you were doing this report, what were some instances of domestic
terrorism that you came across?


[ Triana McNeil, Director, Homeland Security & Justice, GAO, speaking: ]

So we've done a body of work looking at, domestic terrorism issues and
incidents. The one that comes to mind is the one that happened a few
years ago at that church in Charleston, South Carolina, where a gunman
went into the church and killed a number of parishioners that were there
for bible study and prayer.


[ Interviewer: ]

So what is driving these horrific events? And are they happening with
less or more frequency?


[ Triana McNeil: ]

The FBI said since 2020, the number of domestic terrorism related
investigations has doubled. And the biggest threats are racial and
ethnically motivated, as well as anti-gun anti-authority motivated.


[ Interviewer: ]

So for the national strategy, who created it?


[ Triana McNeil: ]

The National Security Council wrote this strategy, they broke it up in
four pillars. One was to share information. The second was to prevent
domestic terrorism. The third was disrupting and deterring domestic
terrorism. And the fourth was confronting long term contributors to
domestic terrorism.


[ Text On-Screen: ]

Pillar 1
Understand and share domestic terrorism-related information

Pillar 2
Prevent domestic terrorism recruitment and mobilization to
violence

Pillar 3
Disrupt and deter domestic terrorism activity

Pillar 4
Confront long-term contributors to domestic terrorism


[ Interviewer: ]

In your review of the strategy. What questions did you go into it
looking to answer?


[ Triana McNeil: ]

We try to figure out are these government programs and activities
working? Are they effective? And how much does it cost? Is it worth the
cost?


[ Interviewer: ]

So, we have a clear emphasis on doing nonpartisan work in order to get
accurate information for Congress and the American people. What did you
find when you looked at this strategy?


[ Triana McNeil: ]

The strategy is missing some critical elements. It falls short on the
performance measures.


[ Text On-Screen (Highlighted): ]

Partial - partially addressed
Goals, subordinate objectives, activities, and performance measures


[ Triana McNeil: ]

So we don't really know how well the Biden administration was able to
meet the goals outlined in the strategy.


[ Interviewer: ]

Does your report still have relevance now that there's a new
administration in office?


[ Triana McNeil: ]

So when new administrations come in, they may develop their own strategy
based on their priorities. Either way, our recommendations are still
relevant.

If everybody understands their roles and responsibilities, ...


[ Text On-Screen (Highlighted): ]

Partial - partially addressed
Organizational roles, responsibilities, and coordination


[ Triana McNeil: ]

..., it can ultimately prevent people from becoming domestic terrorists
in the first place.


[ Text On-Screen: ]

find out more @ GAO.gov

GAO-25-107030

DOMESTIC TERRORISM Aditional Actions Needed to Implement an Effective
National Strategy


[ END ]


For more info, check out our report GAO-25-107030 at: GAO.gov