Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle said Wednesday that domestic terrorism is the greatest security threat the United States faces today, as members of Congress marked the 24th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks and reflected on a recent spate of politically charged violence.
Republican and Democratic lawmakers alike pointed to the rise of homegrown violent extremism, amplified by social media and partisan rancor, and said recent events have underscored the danger. "You’ve got to be vigilant on all of it," Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., said, while placing particular blame for recent violence on elements of the left. "They’ve got blood on their hands on this one, there is no question," he added.
Other Republicans warned that the threat is both ideological and operational. "We need a country that respects the rule of law and can actually engage in civil discourse. We don't have that right now," Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, said. Rep. Jodey Arrington, R-Texas, said he is more concerned about domestic than foreign terrorists and warned that it is "not a matter of if but when," citing fears about individuals who may have entered the country through the southern border. "You also can't allow your border to be wide open where you have people, record numbers of people, on the terrorist watch list over here," he said.
Rep. Troy Nehls, R-Texas, pointed to past arrests and prosecutions involving transnational criminal groups and said those incidents demonstrate the danger of violent actors arriving at the border. "What we have seen with all the terrorism, with the individuals coming across our southern border for the past four years and preying on innocent victims in our country," Nehls said, naming violent groups that have been linked to crimes in the United States.
Republicans also warned that deteriorating civic norms and increased polarization are fueling domestic threats. Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., said the international threat remains but that "we do have an increased domestic problem because we've lost our moorings a little bit spiritually," pointing to online echo chambers and anger-driven extremism.
Democrats voiced similar alarm. "Domestic terrorism keeps me up at night," Rep. André Carson, D-Ind., said, calling for cooperation with law enforcement and community leaders to keep neighborhoods safe. Rep. Ritchie Torres, D-N.Y., said social media has accelerated the spread of violent extremism and that concerns about personal safety are affecting public life. "I have lost an incentive to do public events without extensive safety precautions," he said, adding that the anxiety is likely shared among many members of Congress.
The heightened attention to domestic threats followed the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University earlier this month, an event lawmakers said has intensified discussions about the safety of public figures. Former President Donald Trump issued a public statement calling Kirk "a martyr for truth and freedom." The shooting has been cited by several lawmakers as evidence that political violence in the United States has reached a new level of lethality.
Lawmakers emphasized that concerns about domestic terrorism do not eliminate the risk posed by foreign extremist networks, but several members said priorities must shift to address threats at home, including community-based radicalization and the role of online platforms. Several Republican members also blamed recent migration policies, saying they have increased the chance that violent actors could enter the country, a claim Democrats disputed.
On the symbolic anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, members from both parties urged vigilance, cooperation with law enforcement and renewed attention to preventing violence. They said safeguarding democratic norms and restoring civil discourse are essential to reducing the appeal of violent extremism and protecting both public officials and ordinary citizens.