During a House of Representatives panel on Thursday, FBI Director Christopher Wray expressed concerns about the potential of an organized attack within the United States resembling the tragic incident at a Russian concert hall last month.
Wray emphasized the unprecedented level of threats to public safety and national security, noting the alarming confluence of challenges facing law enforcement today.
The attack on a concert hall in a Moscow suburb on March 22 resulted in the loss of at least 144 lives, marking Russia’s deadliest incident in two decades. While a branch of the Islamic State claimed responsibility, Russian President Vladimir Putin attributed blame to Ukraine without substantiating evidence.
U.S. authorities have been on high alert for potential attacks inspired by ongoing conflicts such as the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. However, Wray highlighted growing concerns within the FBI regarding the possibility of a more coordinated assault, drawing parallels to the tragic events in Russia.
According to Wray’s written testimony, the FBI had 4,000 open investigations related to international terrorism by the end of the 2023 fiscal year. He reiterated these concerns during his testimony, underscoring the potential for a coordinated attack within the homeland similar to the recent ISIS-K assault in Russia.
Wray leveraged these concerns to advocate for increased funding for the FBI, despite anticipated resistance from Republican lawmakers who have been critical of the bureau. The FBI has faced heightened scrutiny and political attacks, with former President Donald Trump calling for budget cuts and referring to the agency and the Justice Department as “vicious monsters.”
Political rhetoric targeting the FBI has escalated, leading to a surge in threats against the bureau and its personnel. Wray cited a recent incident where a South Carolina man attempted to ram his car into the FBI’s Atlanta office as an example of the increased dangers faced by the agency.
Wray urged lawmakers to address the bureau’s budget shortfall, emphasizing the importance of maintaining adequate resources to sustain its efforts in safeguarding national security.
Additionally, Wray pressed for the renewal of a crucial U.S. surveillance program set to expire, describing it as indispensable in countering threats from adversaries. However, efforts to overhaul the program faced setbacks in Congress, raising concerns about the government’s surveillance powers.
Republican congressman Mike Garcia voiced skepticism during the hearing, expressing doubts about the agency’s leadership and indicating broader concerns beyond funding issues.
