FBI and NCTC Chiefs Address Global Terrorism Challenges before U.S. House Homeland Security Committee

Yesterday, FBI Director Christopher Wray and National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) Acting Director Russell Travers provided testimony to the U.S House Homeland Security Committee on “Global Terrorism: Threats to the Homeland.” Speaking to one of the latest developments regarding the domestic extremist threat, Wray said that violent, racially motivated extremists in the U.S. are connecting with foreign extremists, with some traveling abroad to train. He also stated that many extremists in the U.S. continue to be inspired by what they see happening overseas. “Probably a more prevalent phenomenon that we see right now is racially motivated violent extremists here who are inspired by what they see overseas,” Wray explained, referencing the shootings at mosques in New Zealand. In his testimony, Director Travers acknowledged the success the U.S. and its allies have achieved in undermining foreign terrorist groups, citing the military operation over the weekend that resulted in the death of Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi as an example. But he observed that in spite of this and other operations and efforts the U.S. has had difficulty staunching terrorist growth overseas. “Over a year ago, NCTC warned that the terrorist threat was becoming more diverse, dispersed, and unpredictable; unfortunately, these trends have only continued, posing an increasingly complex challenge for the U.S. and its allies,” said Travers. “In several regions, we continue to observe the expansion or revival of familiar threats, as well as the emergence of new ones.” Read Director Wray’s statement at the FBI and Acting Director Travers’ statement at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.