Why It Matters
The 25th anniversary of 9/11 arrives amid a terrorism landscape that has fundamentally shifted. Recent attempted attacks, including a synagogue plot in Michigan where the shooter had familial ties to a Hezbollah leader, underscore how terrorism has become decentralized, diffuse, and harder to predict. The House Committee on Homeland Security will examine how federal, state, and local counterterrorism efforts have adapted over two decades, with particular attention to the sprawl of agencies involved in the effort.
The Hearing
The House Committee on Homeland Security will hold a hearing titled "25 Years Later: Evolutions In Federal, State, And Local Counterterrorism Efforts Since 9/11" on September 16. The committee is chaired by Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-NY), with Ranking Member Bennie Thompson (D-MS) leading the Democratic opposition.
Context
The terrorism threat facing the U.S. remains complex and unpredictable, with no single paramount threat. Al-Qaeda and ISIS pose the biggest threat to the country, but the challenge extends to a variety of formal groups, loose networks, and lone actors who intend to kill Americans and spread fear. In the Michigan synagogue plot, some operatives had online contact with Islamist terrorists inspired by foreign terrorist organizations. These developments have occurred against a backdrop of global tensions, including widespread Muslim protests and alarm at U.S. and Israeli governments' 2026 campaign against Iran.
The Bottom Line
The hearing reflects Congress's effort to assess whether the post-9/11 counterterrorism infrastructure, built across hundreds of federal, state, and local agencies, remains fit for a threat landscape that has shifted from centralized networks to decentralized actors. The outcome could shape how Congress approaches funding, coordination, and intelligence-sharing in the years ahead.
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