The first half of 2025 has seen a disturbing surge in high-profile terrorist attacks across the United States. Investigators have linked four of these incidents to radical motivations, potentially influenced by the ongoing war in Gaza or driven by extremist ideologies associated with ISIS. From the devastating truck rampage in New Orleans to the Molotov cocktail assault in Boulder, the scale of violence is alarming. The frequency and intensity of these attacks raise important questions about the current state of national security and counterterrorism efforts. With the federal government’s shifting focus from terrorism to other priorities, some experts fear that the U.S. is at risk of repeating past mistakes, just as it did in the lead-up to the 9/11 attacks.
Law enforcement agencies are working tirelessly to investigate these violent incidents, but counterterrorism experts, including former Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials, are sounding the alarm. Elizabeth Neumann, a former assistant secretary for counterterrorism during the Trump administration, has expressed concern that the U.S. may be “making the same mistakes” it made before the 9/11 tragedy. According to Neumann, the shift in focus from counterterrorism efforts to immigration enforcement and mass deportation has taken valuable resources away from combating terrorism, and this change of priorities could have disastrous consequences. She pointed out that the focus on mass deportation and enforcing immigration laws is distracting from the need to prevent violent extremism, both homegrown and foreign-inspired.
In response to these concerns, a senior DHS official stated that any suggestions the department is shifting away from addressing terrorism are “simply false.” The official emphasized that the Department of Homeland Security, under President Trump’s administration, remains committed to using all available tools and resources to protect U.S. citizens and secure the country’s borders. “The safety of American citizens comes first,” the official said.
Despite this assurance, the growing wave of extremist violence has caused unease among law enforcement and the public. The attacks appear to be linked not only to domestic extremism but also to the broader international conflicts, notably the Gaza war that erupted on October 7, 2023. Hamas, the Palestinian militant group, launched a coordinated ambush on Israel, killing 1,200 people, including children, and taking 251 hostages. As the war intensified, the death toll in Gaza reached nearly 54,000, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Ministry of Health. The devastating consequences of this conflict have rippled across the globe, with violent demonstrations and terrorist attacks increasingly associated with the Gaza war.
Federal and state law enforcement agencies, as well as the Department of Homeland Security, have issued repeated warnings that the U.S. remains vulnerable to terrorism, particularly in light of the Gaza war. According to a bulletin from the New York City Police Department (NYPD), Jewish institutions and individuals have been the targets of violence and hate crimes, exacerbated by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The FBI and DHS have issued similar warnings, alerting the public to the potential threat of terrorism, especially during large events or gatherings that could become soft targets for attackers. Yet despite these warnings, experts like John Cohen, former DHS undersecretary of intelligence, worry that the current counterterrorism infrastructure is being undermined by budget cuts and a shift in focus to immigration enforcement.
Cohen highlighted a disturbing development—the proposed budget cut for the FBI’s fiscal year 2026, which would reduce the bureau’s funding by $545 million, or about 5% of its total budget. This reduction in resources comes at a time when law enforcement agencies need to bolster efforts to counter domestic and foreign terrorism, as extremist groups, including ISIS, continue to utilize the internet as a platform to radicalize individuals. The ongoing threat from both homegrown violent extremists (HVEs) and domestic violent extremists (DVEs) is more pronounced than ever, as these individuals are increasingly influenced by foreign terrorist organizations (FTOs) and extremist ideologies. Cohen noted that while the U.S. has made strides in capturing dangerous criminals, there are serious concerns about whether law enforcement agencies are adequately equipped to respond to the rising terrorist threat.
In addition to concerns about budget cuts, Neumann raised the issue of reduced resources in counterterrorism programs that were once instrumental in preventing hate-fueled violence. The Center for Prevention Programs and Partnerships (CP3), which Neumann helped establish within DHS, has seen significant budget cuts. This office was specifically designed to help communities prevent radicalization and provide intervention strategies for individuals at risk of committing violence. Neumann argued that without a comprehensive approach to counterterrorism that involves local communities and mental health professionals, the U.S. may struggle to prevent future attacks.
The surge in extremist violence in the U.S. has been deeply connected to rising tensions surrounding the Gaza conflict. Three of the high-profile terrorist incidents, including a Molotov cocktail attack in Boulder, were allegedly inspired by the war. In the attack on May 21, 2025, a suspect targeted two Israeli embassy staff members outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., shouting “Free Palestine” after shooting them. In Boulder, authorities say Mohamed Soliman, an Egyptian-born man, shouted “Free Palestine” while attacking demonstrators with Molotov cocktails and a makeshift flamethrower. Soliman, who had overstayed his B2 tourist visa, was charged with multiple offenses, including hate crimes. Investigators also uncovered disturbing connections between the suspect’s actions and extremist groups in the Middle East.
These attacks represent a growing trend of violence linked to international conflicts, but also highlight the role of domestic actors in exacerbating the crisis. The May 17, 2025, bombing in Palm Springs, California, for example, involved a suspect who allegedly held “pro-mortalism” and “anti-natalism” beliefs. This attack was unconnected to the Gaza conflict, but it nonetheless contributed to the overall surge in domestic terrorism in the U.S.
The New Year’s Day truck-ramming incident on Bourbon Street in New Orleans is another glaring example of the rising threat of terrorism. A suspect who had pledged support for ISIS killed 14 people, and in a chilling video posted before the attack, he stated that he was targeting a “war between believers and disbelievers.” This act of terrorism marked the first of several attacks in the U.S. to be tied to extremist ideologies linked to the Middle East, and it demonstrated the increasing ability of groups like ISIS to inspire and instruct individuals within the U.S.
At the same time, law enforcement agencies are grappling with the challenge of dealing with non-terror-related attacks. The FBI recently thwarted an attempted attack on the U.S. embassy in Tel Aviv by a dual American-German citizen, who had tried to carry out a Molotov cocktail attack. These incidents reveal the complex nature of modern terrorism, where both foreign and domestic actors are involved in causing harm to the U.S. and its allies.
Experts emphasize the need for greater coordination and resource allocation to counter these threats. As the online radicalization of individuals continues to increase, it’s critical for law enforcement to not only track the movements of potential extremists but to also understand the ideological content that fuels these attacks. Terrorist groups are not only inspiring violence—they are teaching people how to carry out attacks, whether by vehicle ramming, constructing explosives, or targeting soft locations like cultural and sporting events.
The recent surge in attacks and extremist violence has raised pressing questions about the U.S. government’s priorities in addressing national security threats. Experts like Neumann and Cohen are deeply concerned that the current shift in counterterrorism efforts towards immigration enforcement could have long-term repercussions for U.S. safety. While some see the government’s approach as necessary for maintaining security, others warn that terrorism cannot be ignored, especially as extremist groups continue to exploit vulnerabilities.
In conclusion, the first half of 2025 has shown that the threat of terrorism in the U.S. remains high, with many attacks motivated by a complex combination of domestic and international factors. While there are growing concerns about the federal government’s shifting focus and diminishing resources for counterterrorism efforts, experts agree that a comprehensive, balanced approach is essential to safeguard the nation from further violence. With terrorism continuing to evolve, it is crucial for law enforcement and intelligence agencies to adapt and act swiftly to mitigate risks and protect the American public.
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