Domestic Terrorism and Violent Extremism: Background, Issues and Strategies

Under U.S. law, domestic terrorism is generally defined as involving criminal acts dangerous to human life occurring in the U.S. or its territories that appear intended to coerce a civilian population or influence or affect the conduct of government. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) use the term domestic violent extremism (DVE) to refer to a variety of domestic terrorism threats. The Department of Justice has referred to domestic terrorism as one of the most significant threats facing the country. In recent years the United States has seen unprecedented and troubling levels of DVE. The FBI has stated that more domestic terrorism investigative activity occurred in the United States in 2020 than in the previous 25 years.