DHS Could Do More to Address the Threats of Domestic Terrorism

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Date Issued

Thursday, July 7, 2022

Submitting OIG

Department of Homeland Security OIG

Other Participating OIGs

Department of Homeland Security OIG

Agencies Reviewed/Investigated

Department of Homeland Security

Report Number

OIG-22-49

Report Description

The objective was to determine the extent to which DHS is positioned to prevent and reduce domestic terrorism in the United States. We determined that DHS has taken steps to help the United States counter terrorism, but those efforts have not always been consistent.

Report Type

Audit

Agency Wide

Yes

Number of Recommendations

Questioned Costs

Funds for Better Use

Open Recommendations

This report has 5 open recommendations.

Recommendation Number	Significant Recommendation	Recommended Questioned Costs	Recommended Funds for Better Use
1	No	$0	$0
We recommend the Counterterrorism Coordinator, with support from the Office of Strategy, Policy, and Plans, Office of Intelligence and Analysis, and the Management Directorate perform a needs assessment toidentify the staffing and budget necessary for overseeing the department-wide mission to counter domestic terrorism.
2	No	$0	$0
We recommend the Counterterrorism Coordinator use the results of the needs assessment to establish a long-term governing body to oversee and coordinate the Department’s efforts to counter domestic terrorismby creating:• a charter with business rules and roles and responsibilities for longterm action;• a formalized documented process to monitor and track completion ofaction items; and• a formalized documented feedback process to review, update, andmeasure the impact of priority actions taken in response to changesin the domestic terrorism threat environment.
3	No	$0	$0
We recommend the DHS Secretary work with the Attorney General and the appropriate congressional committees, to ensure each Department collects and shares direct access to domestic terrorisminformation. Specifically: The Under Secretary of Intelligence and Analysis should immediatelybegin working with the Federal Bureau of Investigation to ensure Officeof Intelligence and Analysis domestic terrorism analysts have appropriateaccess to Federal Bureau of Investigation case information
4	No	$0	$0
We recommend the Under Secretary of Science and Technology and the Under Secretary for Strategy, Policy, and Plans partner with agencies or Department of Homeland Security components to obtainaccess to appropriate information that may inform development of nationallevel statistics on terrorism and targeted violence
6	No	$0	$0
We recommend the Counterterrorism Coordinator use the results of the needs assessment to ensure a dedicated level of staff support and resources to execute National Terrorism Advisory System functions.