Elaine Duke, the acting secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, testified Thursday that the greatest global threat to the United States is jihadist groups.
“The primary international terror threat facing our country is from global jihadist groups. However, the department is also focused on the threat of domestic terrorism. Ideologically-motivated violence here in the United States is a danger to our nation, our people, and our values,” Duke told the House Committee on Homeland Security during a hearing on worldwide threats.
“I also want to make clear today that DHS is not standing on the sidelines as these threats proliferate. And we will not allow frequent terrorism to become the new normal,” she added.
The DHS nominee to replace Duke, Kirstjen Nielsen, testified a few weeks earlier that she viewed cyberattacks as the greatest threat to U.S. national security.
“I believe one of the most significant for our nation’s future is cybersecurity and the overall security and resilience of our nation’s critical infrastructure,” Nielsen told the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.
Duke said that, in response to the continued threat of terrorism, DHS has chosen to create a new Office of Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction next week. The office will focus on consolidating and enhancing the department’s work to thwart chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats.
