Overview
- Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard released the 2026 Annual Threat Assessment and testified before the Senate Intelligence Committee.
- The report identifies U.S.-based lone offenders or very small cells inspired by extremist content as the primary near-term risk.
- Officials cite 2025 data: at least three Islamist attacks, at least 15 disrupted plotters, and roughly half with online contacts to Islamist terrorists.
- ISIS and al-Qaeda retain intent to target the United States, though their external operational capacity has declined as affiliates expand in Africa.
- Gabbard said tighter border enforcement has limited access, with only a handful of recent border encounters tied to terrorist groups.