The Department of Homeland Security will allocate $1.8 billion in grants to state and local jurisdictions to protect against terrorism and other disasters, with at least $77 million specifically going toward combatting domestic violent extremism.

Some 200 individuals have been charged with federal offenses connected to the siege at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. Among them are at least 15 examples of family affiliated extremism. These instances include: five sets of husbands and wives; two cases of fathers and sons, mothers and sons, brothers, and cousins; and an instance of father/daughter and brother/sister participation. Although of a different strain and less serious offenses—none specifically terrorism nor involving murder —such kin-connected radicalism is neither a new phenomenon nor one unique to the United States or elsewhere. 

David Pekoske, Acting Secretary of Homeland Security, has issued a National Terrorism Advisory System (NTAS) Bulletin after consultation with the intelligence community and law enforcement partners. There is currently a heightened threat environment across the United States that is likely to persist over the coming weeks. DHS does not have any information to indicate a specific, credible plot; however, violent riots have continued in recent days. DHS says they remain concerned that individuals frustrated with the exercise of governmental authority and the presidential transition, as well as other perceived grievances and ideological causes fueled by false narratives, could continue to mobilize a broad range of ideologically-motivated actors to incite or commit violence.

The Department of Justice announced that six men have been arrested and charged federally with conspiring to kidnap the Governor of Michigan, Gretchen Whitmer.  According to a complaint, this group used operational security measures, including communicating by encrypted messaging platforms and used code words and phrases in an attempt to avoid detection by law enforcement.

The New York Police Department has formed the Racially and Ethnically Motivated Extremism (R.E.M.E) unit within the department’s intelligence division to fight homegrown far right extremism, domestic terrorism and organized hate groups.

Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA), Chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, introduced legislation – The Confronting the Threat of Domestic Terrorism Act – that would create a federal domestic terrorism crime.  

U.S. Senator Martha McSally (R-AZ) released a discussion draft of legislation to add specific punishments for acts of domestic terrorism and provide federal law enforcement with new charging options.