Chairman Thompson Releases Action Plan to Redouble Efforts to Address Domestic Terrorism Threat

(WASHINGTON) – Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, released an action plan to address the threat of domestic terrorism after additional deadly attacks against innocent Americans this past weekend. After years of inaction, the Committee has held hearings and advanced legislation under Chairman Thompson’s leadership to address the very real and persistent threat from domestic terrorism. The Committee will continue its oversight and legislative efforts with the following activities:

August 6, 2019: Chairman Thompson, along with Ranking Member Rogers, write Jim Watkins, the owner of the social media website 8chan asking him to come before the Committee to answer questions on what is being done to address the proliferation of extremist content on his platform.

August 6, 2019: Chairman Thompson writes FBI Director Christopher Wray to demand the FBI brief Congress - on a monthly basis - on the domestic terrorism threat. FBI is absent from classified threat briefings and their presence is required for proper oversight.

August 13, 2019: Chairman Thompson meets with Acting DHS Secretary Kevin McAleenan in Jackson, Mississippi to discuss domestic terrorism at the public launching of the Homeland Security Advisory Council’s Subcommittee for the Prevention of Targeted Violence Against Faith-Based Communities.

Month of August: Committee will carry out site visits and stakeholder roundtables in communities where domestic terrorist attacks were carried out to inform future oversight and legislation.

Month of September:

Chairman Thompson will convene a full committee hearing with Acting DHS Secretary McAleenan, FBI Director Christopher Wray, and NCTC Director Joseph Maguire. Hearing focus will be on the deadly growth in domestic terrorist threats in the U.S.

The Committee will consider additional domestic terrorism legislation that will include a national commission on social media companies and terrorism content.

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