In an unfortunate turn of events, the federal Bomb Prevention Agency’s training session for first responders dealing with IEDs has been canceled. This decision comes just days after an attempted bombing by two Islamic extremists at Gracie’s mansion.
The online course, originally scheduled for this month, was supposed to delve into the functions, parts, and mechanisms of improvised explosive devices. Such training is vital for first responders, law enforcement, and emergency managers facing escalating threats.
The Department of Homeland Security has issued warnings indicating that IEDs are still the preferred weapon for terrorists, largely due to their relatively simple production, accessibility, and significant destructive capabilities.
The attempt on March 8 is the sort of incident that typically drives law enforcement and other officials to engage in government-sponsored training to better prepare for similar threats. However, these programs are now suspended because federal funding has expired, leaving online and in-person training currently unavailable.
The “Bomb Threat Assessment for Decision Makers” course is among those that cannot be accessed at this time.
These offerings are just a few of the many classes provided by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, focusing on topics from recognizing bomb-making materials to identifying surveillance that may indicate potential attacks.
Classes are available in various formats—some virtual sessions are as short as 90 minutes, while others, like the Introduction to Adversarial Surveillance, require a full day.
One NYPD officer expressed concern, pointing to recent attacks as clear evidence of the need for a robust Department of Homeland Security. With incidents like a vehicle crashing into a synagogue and a bomb being thrown at Gracie’s residence, defunding such crucial agencies seems, well, irresponsible.
This week, approximately 30 NYPD officers participated in a three-day bomb surveillance training course. Lindsey Bonner, a specialist with the Bomb Terrorism Bureau, noted that the team is operating at a significantly reduced capacity during what they call “shutdown mode.” The cancellation of online classes resulted from furloughs impacting both the agency and FEMA’s National Readiness Center.
Bonner stated that normally they’d have 18 fully staffed instructors, but now, they’re down to six classes and only two running each week. It’s certainly a limitation.
Even with these challenges, a course for bomb surveillance prevention went ahead this week, and safety measures are being prioritized, especially with the FIFA World Cup and the 250th anniversary celebrations approaching.
Authorities were already on high alert in light of the ongoing conflict with Iran. It’s a precarious situation since senior officials have cautioned about the threat of Iranian sleeper cells in the U.S.
As for hopes of a quick resolution to the funding issues, those were dashed when Senate Democrats blocked Republican attempts to secure temporary funding for homeland security programs, all while negotiations with the White House are still underway over new limitations on ICE officers.
Rep. Andrew Garbarino, chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, criticized the situation, stating that it’s unacceptable for essential training to be interrupted due to political gridlock. With 25 years having passed since 9/11, he emphasized that New York remains a prime terrorist target and that recent events underline the importance of continued DHS training and counterterrorism funding for local entities.
The training initiative was launched under a 2013 directive from President Obama, marking the 20th anniversary of the first World Trade Center attack, aimed at enhancing preparedness for law enforcement and first responders against the latest in IED tactics.
