{"id":17171,"date":"2022-01-11T18:48:22","date_gmt":"2022-01-11T18:48:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/federaltimes\/uncategorized\/2022\/01\/11\/doj-creating-unit-to-focus-on-domestic-terrorism\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T04:43:14","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T04:43:14","slug":"doj-creating-unit-to-focus-on-domestic-terrorism","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/federaltimes\/federal-oversight\/doj-fbi\/2022\/01\/11\/doj-creating-unit-to-focus-on-domestic-terrorism\/","title":{"rendered":"DOJ creating unit to focus on domestic terrorism"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Justice Department is establishing a specialized unit focused on domestic terrorism, the department\u2019s top national security official told lawmakers Tuesday as he described an \u201celevated\u201d threat from violent extremists in the United States.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Assistant Attorney General Matthew Olsen, testifying just days after the nation observed the one-year anniversary of the violent insurrection<\/a> at the U.S. Capitol, said the number of FBI investigations into suspected domestic violent extremists has more than doubled since the spring of 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe have seen a growing threat from those who are motivated by racial animus, as well as those who ascribe to extremist anti-government and anti-authority ideologies,\u201d Olsen said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Olsen\u2019s assessment tracked with a warning last March from FBI Director Christopher Wray<\/a>, who testified that the threat was \u201cmetastasizing.\u201d Jill Sanborn, the executive assistant director in charge of the FBI\u2019s national security branch who testified alongside Olsen, said Tuesday the greatest threat comes from lone extremists who radicalize online and look to carry out violence at so-called \u201csoft targets.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t