Summary
Imagine the U.S. as a besieged fortress, once surrounded by a protective moat of prevention programs designed to stop the advance of extremism and terrorism. These programs were like our early warning systems, spotting the sparks of radicalization before they turned into a raging fire. Now, due to massive cuts and layoffs in 2025, it’s like we’ve drained this moat and left the fortress exposed, relying on reactive measures such as military and law enforcement, akin to firefighters rushing in after the place is already ablaze.
Key Points
– Staff at the State Department’s Office of Countering Violent Extremism and Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations were laid off on July 11, 2025.
– The dismantling of the country’s terrorism and extremism prevention programs began in February 2025, with USAID’s Bureau of Conflict Prevention and Stabilization put on leave.
– In March, the Center for Prevention Programs and Partnerships at the Department of Homeland Security laid off about 30% of its staff, with further cuts in June.
– These cuts have limited the U.S. government’s terrorism prevention work, leaving its response to terrorism mostly to the military and law enforcement.
– The cost of the U.S. war on terrorism between 9/11 and 2021 was $8 trillion and 900,000 deaths, and yet terrorism has continued to expand.
– In July 2025, the State Department canceled a program aimed at preventing terrorists from recruiting young people online due to a loss of funding.
Background
The U.S. has a long history of military and enforcement-based responses to terrorism, including the war on terror after the attacks of 9/11. In recent years, however, there has been a shift towards prevention programs aimed at addressing the root causes of extremism. This change of approach was largely endorsed by the Global Fragility Act, signed by President Trump in 2019.
Future Implications
The dismantling of these prevention programs may force the U.S. back to a reactive, military approach to terrorism, risking the repetition of past harmful outcomes. It also risks exacerbating terrorist activities, as prevention efforts are key in addressing the root causes of extremism. Rebuilding a prevention-focused approach will require bipartisan support and funding.
