I am writing to you as a concerned citizen, deeply troubled by the recent findings from the Brennan Center for Justice regarding the lack of accurate and transparent data on domestic terrorism within our nation. It has come to my attention that despite the Biden administration's recognition of domestic terrorism as the "most urgent terrorism threat the United States faces today," there exists a significant gap in our government's ability to provide concrete data on this critical issue.
The FBI's June 2023 report to Congress, which admitted to the lack of annual statistics on domestic terror events and associated fatalities in the U.S., along with the absence of data on the number of successful domestic terrorism prosecutions, is particularly alarming. This omission not only undermines our nation's security but also contradicts the mandates set forth by the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act, requiring such data to be reported annually to Congress.
Furthermore, despite the Department of Justice's establishment of a protocol in 2021 for identifying and tracking "domestic violent extremism (DVE)" within its Justice Manual, the lack of publicly available data on these events is a concerning omission. The transparency and accountability promised by such measures remain unrealized, leaving our communities uninformed and potentially at risk.
I urge you, as my representative, to take immediate action to address these shortcomings. Please advocate for the FBI and the Department of Justice to fulfill their obligations by providing comprehensive, accurate, and publicly accessible data on domestic terrorism. It is imperative that Congress follows up on the FBI's failure to comply with legislative requirements and presses the Department of Justice to adhere to its own protocols by releasing the necessary data.
The safety and security of our nation and its citizens depend on the ability of our government to effectively track, analyze, and respond to domestic terrorism threats. Accurate data is the foundation of this capability and is crucial for developing effective counter-terrorism strategies and policies.
I trust in your commitment to our nation's security and democratic values, and I look forward to seeing your leadership on this critical issue.
