25 years later, polls show what Sept. 11 changed

In the months after Sept. 11, pollsters asked questions about virtually every aspect of the attack. Many of them updated their questions for years, but they don’t do so today. Here’s what we know now.

A future terrorist attack on U.S. soil: In a Gallup question from 2025, 40% worried a great deal about another terrorist attack on U.S. soil. The issue ranked far behind issues such as the economy (60%). On the 10th anniversary, around 70% in a CBS News poll said they were worried. A majority of Americans still see international terrorism as a critical threat in Chicago Council polling.