FBI and DHS Decline Public Testimony on National Security Threats; Issue Warning Regarding Threats to Jewish and Israeli Communities

The FBI and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) declined to testify publicly before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee at a hearing scheduled for Thursday, concerning global national security threats. This marks a departure from over 15 years of tradition where the FBI director and Homeland Security secretary provided public testimony at this annual hearing.

Senator Gary Peters, chairman of the committee, issued a statement criticizing the agencies’ decision. He stated that the refusal to provide public testimony “robs the American people of critical information and the opportunity for public accountability of what the federal government is doing to keep Americans safe.” He described the absence as a “shocking departure” from established protocol. A separate hearing scheduled for Wednesday before the House Homeland Security Committee was also postponed.

In a statement, the FBI acknowledged its commitment to Congressional oversight and transparency, highlighting previous public testimonies on the threat environment. The FBI explained that they believed a classified setting would be more beneficial for providing “substantive discussions and additional information.” The DHS echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the extensive unclassified information already shared with the committee and the public, including their recently published Homeland Threat Assessment. The DHS also noted that Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has testified before Congress 30 times during his tenure.

The agencies offered to testify in a classified setting. The Senate committee was informed of the decision on Monday. The annual hearing is typically scheduled months in advance and has always included a public component.

Separately, the FBI and DHS issued a public service announcement warning of an “elevated threat” to Jewish and Israeli communities. This announcement followed two recent attacks: the fatal shooting of two Israeli embassy staffers outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., and the firebombing attack on a march for Israeli hostages in Boulder, Colorado. The announcement cited the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict as a potential motivator for violent extremists and hate crime perpetrators.

The agencies stated that the conflict may motivate attacks against Jewish and Israeli communities and their supporters, and that foreign terrorist organizations might exploit narratives related to the conflict to inspire attacks in the United States. The PSA urged the public to remain vigilant and report any threats of violence to law enforcement. This is not the first such warning issued by the agencies; previous warnings were issued in October and December 2023, and in January 2024, following a New Year’s Day attack in New Orleans.

The suspects in both the Boulder and D.C. attacks appeared to be motivated by the ongoing conflict in Israel, with both reportedly shouting “free Palestine” during or after their respective attacks.

In summary, the FBI and DHS chose not to provide public testimony on national security threats to Congress, citing the need for classified discussions. Concurrently, they issued a public warning about an elevated threat to Jewish and Israeli communities in the United States, linking this threat to the ongoing conflict in Israel. The reasons for the refusal to testify publicly remain a point of contention, while the public warning highlights the perceived need for increased vigilance and reporting of potential threats.

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