Lone wolf attackers, influenced by extremist ideologies, represent the most significant terrorist threat to the U.S., as stated in the U.S. intelligence community’s 2026 Annual Threat Assessment.
This 34-page report was made public by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard on Wednesday. She, alongside other military officials and members of the Trump administration, testified before the Senate Intelligence Committee regarding global threats.
The previous year’s Threat Assessment similarly highlighted the rising danger posed by individuals acting independently or in small groups.
While ISIS and al-Qaeda still aim to target the U.S., their capacity to organize and execute intricate attacks has decreased notably over time, the report indicates.
Officials warned that online radicalization is leading more individuals to carry out or attempt attacks with minimal guidance, often employing basic tactics that require little coordination.
The report notes, “Jihadist narratives that address personal grievances may attract individuals looking for legitimacy or moral justification for their violent tendencies, even if they have no prior knowledge of Islam. Such content normalizes intolerance towards differing beliefs, drawing people towards Islamism.” It also mentioned that anti-Western and anti-Semitic sentiments could influence Muslim youth facing integration challenges and discontent with the West’s actions abroad, especially regarding the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Al-Qaeda and ISIS have broadened their operations mainly through local conflicts in Africa, where many of their most powerful and violent groups are currently located.
The assessment also pointed to ongoing monitoring of events in the Middle East, particularly following Operation Epic Fury.
DNI Gabbard noted to lawmakers that stricter border controls are helping to limit terrorists’ access to the United States and reducing the risk of possible attacks.
“Since January, U.S. officials have encountered only a few personnel from terrorist organizations at the border, which is encouraging,” she remarked. “However, our interagency efforts remain vigilant as we continue to identify, locate, and remove known or suspected terrorists already within the United States.”
In 2025, there were at least three Islamist terrorist attacks in the U.S., but law enforcement successfully disrupted at least 15 plots from individuals within the country. Approximately half of those thwarted had some online interactions with Islamist terrorists, Gabbard added.
