DHS launches website with research, assistance and tools to help prevent domestic terrorism

The Department of Homeland Security has launched a new interagency website to help combat targeted attacks and domestic terrorism by providing resources such as federal grants, training opportunities and community support professionals.

According to DHS’s new website, PreventionResourceFinder.govIt was developed in partnership with 17 different federal agencies, including the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the State Department, and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CIA) to “provide visitors with a one-stop shop for federal resources to prevent targeted violence and terrorism.”

In a statement announcing the launch of the new position, DHS Secretary Alejandro Mallorca described targeted attacks and terrorism as “serious threats” to national security.

“The website we’re launching today will equip our partners across the country with helpful resources to better prevent, prepare and respond to violent incidents,” the mayor said. “From first responders to nonprofits, a whole-of-society approach is needed to keep our communities safe and secure.”

Government Accountability Office (GAO) Report A report titled “Domestic Terrorism on the Rise” in the U.S. was published earlier this month, with 231 domestic terrorist incidents between 2010 and 2021. About 35% of these incidents were classified as racially or ethnically motivated, the largest category being anti-government or anti-authority motivated violent extremism with the second largest category of incidents.

The GAO report also found that DHS and the FBI did not share information about domestic terrorism incidents due to miscommunication and did not report to Congress the total amount of domestic terrorism incidents required.

According to DHS, the new site will be regularly updated with new evidence-based research, assistance and additional resources for community partners to reduce any domestic terrorism threats.

“These departments and agencies collaborate through programs, tools, funding, victim support, training and technical expertise to prevent, detect and mitigate violence and terrorism targeting communities and groups,” DHS said in a statement.