ICYMI: Homeland Republicans Examine Worldwide Threats to the Homeland Amid Evolving Threat Landscape

WASHINGTON, D.C. --This week, the House Committee on Homeland Security convened their annual Worldwide Threats hearing to examine the threats facing the United States, especially as America looks forward to hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Olympics and Paralympics.

Witnesses included Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem, National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) Director Joseph Kent, and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) National Security Branch Operations Director Michael Glasheen. During the hearing, witnesses detailed how the previous administration's historic border crisis and botched withdrawal from Afghanistan continues to shape today's threat environment. Secretary Noem and Director Kent also outlined the steps the current administration is taking to identify, assess, and mitigate threats posed by terrorist groups, transnational criminal organizations, and lone wolf actors. Members and witnesses underscored the Trump administration's historic border security achievements and efforts to combat drug and human smuggling, while stressing the rapidly evolving threat landscape driven by emerging technologies, online radicalization, and a global resurgence of terrorist groups.

In his opening statement, House Committee on Homeland Security Chairman Andrew R. Garbarino (R-NY) highlighted the important partnership between the Committee and the federal agencies testifying at the hearing. He commended their ongoing efforts to secure the border, remove violent criminals from our streets, and curb the flow of illegal drugs into American communities:

"The work your agencies do each day furthers that mission and this Committee will always be a strong partner in those efforts. I want to commend all three of you - the border is secure, the flow of drugs is slowing, and violent criminals are being taken off the streets. America is once again a symbol of global strength."

"However, as I am sure you will all agree, it is not time to take a break, it is time for action. We cannot succeed in our collective homeland security mission without working together, collaborating, and striving for better. The threats we face are persistent and ever-changing."

"In 2025, we fight our adversaries in cyberspace, we counter radicalization on the internet and in chatrooms, we resist Communist China propaganda, we prepare for newfound biological threats, and we combat the flow of transnational criminals across our borders."

"All of this is on the backdrop of the upcoming 25^th anniversary of the horrific terrorist attacks of September 11^th that took the lives of thousands across New York, D.C., and Pennsylvania. It's why I sought this Chairmanship and what guides me every day in this work. We all share the same goal - keeping Americans safe regardless of the threat."

Subcommittee on Border Security and Enforcement Chairman Michael Guest (R-MS) asked about the impact of anti-law enforcement threats on operational effectiveness and homeland security, to which DHS Secretary Noem testified:

"I think the words that these elected officials have used to describe our law enforcement officers are horrific, shocking, and unacceptable. Every single American citizen should find the words that they have used to describe these men and women that took an oath to keep us safe unacceptable… We are seeing the consequences of those words every single day by the violent attacks."

Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence Chairman August Pfluger (R-TX) asked about the types of threats DHS is tracking and working to prevent amid heightened threats on U.S. soil, to which NCTC Director Kent and Secretary Noem testified:

NCTC Director Kent: "There's 18,000 known and suspected terrorists in the country right now that came in under Joe Biden's watch."

Secretary Noem testified: "We face the terrorists that we faced for years in ISIS and a l-Qaeda, Hamas, individuals that are here that are radicalized, but also we face the cartels as they've infiltrated our country under the last administration… We encounter them, arrest them, deport them, and bring them to justice each and every day.

"Beyond that, sir, you even have gangs in cities that are localized that are terrorist organizations… We work every day to make sure that we're protecting those communities. So, I could not prioritize one over another because they're all killers - they're all killers and they all are destroying families each and every day."

Subcommittee on Emergency Management and Technology Chairman Dale Strong (R-AL) asked how the nation can strengthen counter-drone capabilities as the U.S. prepares to host major global events, to which NCTC Director Kent testified:

"The NDAA for the authorities, that'd be the first step to give us the ability to lawfully use counter-UAS authorities… The counter-UAS technology's going to change, so having the appropriate funding and the support to stay up with that technology so we can mitigate the threats that our nation faces."

Subcommittee on Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection Chairman Andy Ogles (R-TN) asked about the escalating cyber threats from China, to which NCTC Director Kent and FBI National Security Branch Operations Director Glasheen testified:
NCTC Director Kent: "The CCP is one of the more aggressive actors in the cyberspace, right now. NCTC is mostly focused on the terrorism realm and how terrorist actors are using the proliferation of encrypted devices and just the internet to spread propaganda."

FBI National Security Branch Operations Director Glasheen: "I would say that the Chinese government, the CCP, is our greatest cyber threat. It is a full-time job. And the resources they throw at this, it is unbelievable. And a major concern."

Rep. Brad Knott (R-NC) asked how the agencies vet individuals from countries without reliable documentation that also contain foreign terrorist organizations, to which NCTC Director Kent testified:

"You simply can't. That's why prior to the Biden administration, these individuals, even ones who wanted to claim asylum, they had to go to the first safe third country. And it would take 18 months to two years to properly vet them. Biden threw all of that out the window."

Rep. Gabe Evans (R-CO) asked how criminal organizations are shifting their drug and human trafficking methods in response to the Trump administration's strong border enforcement, to which NCTC Director Kent testified:

"President Trump, and Secretary Noem decisively secured the border. A lot of the fentanyl smuggling and drug smuggling is moving to the Maritime environment on both coasts… So we're going to need a good deal more ISR, Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) Platforms, to cover that big and broad space so we can pick up these drug boats and take them off the battlefield."

In his first hearing as a member of the Committee, Rep. Matt Van Epps (R-TN) asked the witnesses what additional cooperation between the public and private sector is needed to better detect and prevent AI-enabled cyberattacks, to which FBI National Security Branch Operations Director Glasheen testified:

"AI is a continued challenge right now… CISA 2015 authorization that gives us the authorities, that's critical for the future success of that. And I think for the ongoing partnerships, I mean, the key piece here is that relationship with private sector, private industry."

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