Washington, D.C. — Today, the Biden administration released the first-ever National Strategy for Countering Domestic Terrorism to address what it considers the most urgent threat to U.S. national security. The plan embraces many of the suggestions in a recent bipartisan policy blueprint from the Center for American Progress and the McCain Institute for International Leadership that outlined a comprehensive strategy to curb the violence and address the root causes of white supremacist violence. In response, Katrina Mulligan, acting Vice President for National Security and International Policy at the Center for American Progress, issued the following statement:
This strategy is exactly the road map we need to combat the pervasive threat of violence fueled by white supremacist extremism. It is narrowly tailored to address violence and the threats of violence that threaten public safety while being careful not to curtail civil liberties. It recognizes the pervasive problem of white supremacist and anti-government ideologies that have inspired terrorism in the United States and recommends an approach that works across all of government to find solutions. The strategy rightly identifies racism, bigotry, gun violence, online recruitment and mobilization, and a lack of civic engagement as long-term contributors to domestic terrorism and commits the administration to working on these issues. We welcome the pledge to counter extremism in the military and within law enforcement as well as the commitment to scrutinize the role of tech companies in reinforcing online messages of hate. The Biden administration has set the right tone here by stressing that there is simply no governmental tolerance of violence as an acceptable mode of seeking political or social change.
For more information or to speak with an expert, please contact Sam Hananel at [email protected] or 202-478-6327.