WASHINGTON, D.C. –– As we approach the 25th anniversary of the attacks of September 11, 2001, the House Committee on Homeland Security has released a report entitled “25th Anniversary Report: National Security Improvements and the Domestic Threat Lands…

WASHINGTON, D.C. –– As we approach the 25th anniversary of the attacks of September 11, 2001, the House Committee on Homeland Security has released a report entitled “25th Anniversary Report: National Security Improvements and the Domestic Threat Landscape 25 Years After 9/11/01.”
 

In the aftermath of the attacks, the federal government established the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States to determine how this attack occurred and provide recommendations to enhance America’s national security and prevent future threats on U.S. soil. The final “9/11 Commission Report,” released in 2004, included 41 recommendations to address identified vulnerabilities and strengthen U.S. national security.
 
As the Committee tasked with conducting oversight of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the only standing House Committee established in response to 9/11, this report evaluates the United States’ progress in strengthening homeland security in the 25 years since the attacks, examines the modern threat landscape facing the United States, and outlines more than 20 recommendations identifying ways Congress can provide further support for DHS’s no-fail mission. Read the full report here.
 
In the preface of the report, Committee Chairman Andrew R. Garbarino (R-NY) writes, in part:

“Twenty-five years later, significant progress has been made towards strengthening our national security and ensuring we never again allow such an attack to be perpetrated against the United States. This no-fail mission requires persistent vigilance and adaptation to keep pace with the contemporary threat environment.”
 
“In keeping with the mandate to prevent and deter future domestic terror attacks, this report provides a comprehensive assessment of the United States’ domestic threat landscape and assesses improvements made to the country’s national security posture over the last twenty-five years. It also provides several recommendations and policy proposals aimed at remedying identified deficiencies and keeping pace with emerging threats.” 
 
“The House Committee on Homeland Security remains steadfast in its objective to protect the American people against threats to the United States and will continue to pursue this mission with all the commitment, dedication, and reverence it so greatly deserves.”

Additional highlights of the report are below.
 

Evolving Threat Landscape: A Failure of Imagination 

• Terrorism and Violent Extremism:
  • “The expansion of the [Foreign Terrorist Organization] list to including cartels, criminal networks, and ideologically diverse extremist groups has required the United States to rethink how it defines and prioritizes threats.”
  • “The shift of jihadist activity toward Africa presents a strategic dilemma. With over two‑thirds of ISIS’s global activity occurring on the continent and seven of the ten countries with the highest deaths linked to terrorism located there, Africa has become the world’s most active terrorism theater. Yet U.S. and partner resources remain limited, and intelligence coverage is uneven.”
  • “The rise of lone actors and inspired attackers requires a shift from organization‑centric counterterrorism to behavior‑centric prevention.” 
  • “The legal ambiguity between domestic terrorism, hate crimes, and foreign‑inspired extremism complicate both prosecution and prevention efforts.” 
  • “The blending of terrorism with cyber capabilities introduces a domain where traditional counterterrorism tools are insufficient.”
• Cybersecurity and Artificial Intelligence:
  • “In cyberspace, the United States is no longer confronting only individual hackers seeking money or notoriety. It now faces sustained campaigns carried out by nation states with the resources, patience, and capabilities of intelligence services and military organizations.”
  • “The number of systems, devices, applications, and third parties that organizations must defend has expanded dramatically.”
  • “Artificial intelligence (AI) is now accelerating this transformation. AI can assist defenders by analyzing large volumes of security data, identifying anomalous behavior, prioritizing vulnerabilities, generating defensive code, and augmenting a limited cyber workforce. But the same capabilities can also assist malicious actors.” 
• Border Security, Screening and Vetting:
  • “Although advances and investments in non-intrusive inspection (NII) technologies like backscatter radiation scanners have greatly expanded the capacity to search and ensure the safety of this cargo, the sheer volume of goods entering the U.S. increases the risk that dangerous contraband may enter undetected.”
  • “Suspected terrorist organizations, transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), human smuggling networks, and foreign non-state actors increasingly exploit cutting-edge, commercially available cryptography, telecommunications, and financial technologies to conceal and coordinate their illicit operations.” 
  • “While the Southwest border has rightly attracted the most attention from policymakers and the public alike over the last several years, recent border security improvements have also prompted TCOs to shift their efforts to the Northern border.”

Policy Recommendations & Relevant Committee Legislation 

The Committee urges Congress and the Executive Branch to work quickly to implement the following proposals, and to do so in a bipartisan manner to ensure long-term certainty and stability across the homeland security enterprise:

1. Improve Information Sharing Processes Across Federal and SLTT Law Enforcement Through Enhanced Field Presence
   1. I&A Mission Reorientation Act (H.R. 7443)
   2. Field Integration of Homeland Intelligence Act (H.R. 7773)
   3. DHS Intelligence Rotational Assignment Program and Law Enforcement Support Act (H.R. 2212)
2. Create Uniformity Across Definitions and Update to Reflect Current Threats
3. Increase Awareness of Emerging Terrorist Threats, Tactics, and Organizations, and Support the DHS Research Enterprise
   1. Generative AI Terrorism Risk Assessment Act (H.R. 1736)
   2. Countering Online Radicalization and Terrorism Act (H.R. 1212)
   3. Major Non-NATO Ally Terror Threat Assessment Act (H.R. 8168)
   4. Department of Homeland Security Vehicular Terrorism Prevention and Mitigation Act of 2025 (H.R. 1608)
4. Restore the Passenger Security Fee to Serve Its Intended Purpose
   1. Spending Aviation Fees for Equipment, Guaranteeing Upgraded and Advanced Risk Detection and Safety Act of 2026 (H.R. 8770)
5. Extend TSA’s One-Stop Pilot Program
   1. One-Stop Pilot Program Extension Act (H.R. 9388)
6. Implement Programs Aimed at Improving the Traveler Experience for Low-Risk Populations
   1. Reimbursable Screening Services Program (RSSP) Extension Act of 2026 (H.R. 9391)
   2. Improving Travel for Military Members Act (H.R. 9328)
   3. Improving Travel for American Families Act (H.R. 8897)
7. Modernize Information Sharing Authorities, Strengthen Coordination, and Equip CISA for the Current Threat Environment
8. Harmonize Cyber Regulations Around Security Outcomes
9. Establish Risk-Based AI Cybersecurity Standards for Critical Infrastructure and Strengthen National Coordination
10. Full Implementation of Biometric Entry-Exit System
11. Expand Utilization of Emerging Technologies and International Partnerships
12. Allocate Additional Resources for Northern Border Security
13. Expand the Use of Non-Intrusive Inspection Technology
14. Stabilize Grant Administration with Consistent Processes
15. Ensure Sufficient Funding for Special Events in Advance
16. Strengthening Core Preparedness and Incident Management Capabilities
17. Continued Funding for the Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG)
18. Effective Training and Reauthorization of the National Domestic Preparedness Consortium (NDPC)
19. Ensuring Continuity of DHS Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) Functions
20. Improve Biodetection Capabilities and Support Granting Statutory Authorization to the National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center (NBACC)
    1. DHS Biodetection Improvement Act (H.R. 706)
21. Improve Agroterrorism Preparedness and Resilience at All Levels of Government
    1. Civil Preparedness for Agroterrorism Exercise Act of 2026 (H.R. 9394)
22. Support FirstNet Reauthorization
23. Increased Funding for Office of SAFETY Act Implementation (OSAI)

Background:
 
Chairman Garbarino is committed to honoring the nearly 3,000 people killed, recognizing the heroism of first responders and civilians, and ensuring younger generations and future national security leaders understand the significance of 9/11 and why continued commitment to the homeland security mission is as important as ever.
 
As a lifelong New Yorker, his tenure as Chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security is informed by this commitment. In his first site visit as Chairman in 2025, the Committee led a bipartisan delegation to visit Ground Zero on the 24th anniversary of the attacks.
 
Over the past year, the Committee held numerous hearings, markups, briefings, roundtables, and site visits to examine and address the current threat landscape, which included evaluations of transportation security and modernization; counterterrorism efforts and information sharing; federal law enforcement coordination with state and local agencies; critical infrastructure protection; oversight of DHS and its components, including but not limited to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Transportation Security Administration, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, the U.S. Coast Guard, the Office of Intelligence & Analysis; and more. 

This month, the Committee held a live showcase for Members and staff across Congress that included demonstrations from numerous DHS components, highlighting how the department uses drone technology, virtual reality training, K-9 operations, and artificial intelligence research to keep Americans safe 25 years after the worst terrorist attacks on U.S. soil.
 

###

Legal Disclaimer:

EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.