The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have released their yearly Strategic Intelligence Assessment and Data on Domestic Terrorism report to Congress for fiscal year 2022. The report provides definitions, terminology, and methodology of domestic terrorism (DT), with an assessment of the different types of activities categorized as DT. It also presents the FBI’s criteria for opening, managing, and closing cases. It proceeds with a presentation of data, and concludes with recommendations for National Strategy implementation, legislation, and resource enhancement.

Here are some key take-aways from the report:

A) Domestic terrorism is currently categorized into the following five threat categories: 1) Racially or Ethnically Motivated Violent Extremism; 2) Anti-Government or Anti-Authority Violent Extremism; 3) Animal Rights or Environmental Violent Extremism; 4) Abortion-Related Violent Extremism; and 5) All Other Domestic Terrorism Threats.

B) Racially or ethnically motivated violent extremists (RMVEs), driven by a belief in the superiority of the white race, remained among the FBI’s highest priority threats in 2022; however, by the end of FY 2022, cases of anti-government or anti-authority violent extremism made up the largest percentage of DT threat investigations (31%).

C) While not considered a DT threat, also covered under DT investigations are cases of rioting and civil unrest, which made up the largest percentage (35%) of all DT investigations.

For more information, check out HSDL’s In Focus topics on Domestic Terrorism in the US, Countering Violent Extremism, and Hate and Antisemitism.