FBI Leadership & Accountability — 2026-03-26

FBI CI Unit Specializing in Iran Threats Gutted as Domestic Terror Plots Double Since 2020

The Christian Science Monitor reports that 10 to 12 agents and staff from an FBI New York counterintelligence unit specializing in Iran threats, foreign spy tracking, and assassination plot investigations were dismissed by FBI Director Patel just days before Operation Epic Fury launched. This occurred as reported foiled terror plots more than doubled from 299 in 2020 to 640 in 2025, and extremist violence rose approximately 40% in early 2025. The National Terrorism Advisory System has issued no public alerts since September 2025, a nine-month gap despite multiple domestic attacks linked to the Iran conflict, including incidents in Austin, New York, Michigan, and Virginia.

Analysis
The nine-month gap in NTAS alerts since September 2025, despite multiple domestic attacks linked to the Iran conflict, represents a departure from established DHS threat communication protocols. The firing of CI-12 personnel who specialized in Iran threats days before Operation Epic Fury launched created an intelligence gap during the most critical operational window.
1 sources
  1. US fights a war abroad, faces terror threats at home - Christian Science Monitor

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