National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard released a previously classified document from the Biden administration which shows Biden’s strategy could potentially infringe upon civil liberties under the pretense of combating domestic terrorism.
Posting to X, Gabbard revealed the declassification of the “Strategic Implementation Plan for Countering Domestic Terrorism,” a document created during the Biden presidency. While the plan ostensibly focuses on enhancing public safety by curbing the radicalization and activities of domestic violent extremists, it also raises significant concerns regarding civil rights.
The document outlines an extensive interagency strategy designed to detect, prevent, and neutralize potential domestic terrorism threats. It was structured to encourage collaboration between federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial bodies, aiming to address both immediate dangers and the deeper causes of domestic radicalization.
However, critics argue the plan goes beyond its stated mission and could give the government leeway to infringe on individual freedoms.
One major point of contention involves possible First Amendment violations. The strategy prioritizes combating the spread of “DT (domestic terrorism)-related content” online, urging a broad effort to track, flag, and suppress what is labeled as extremist speech—often in cooperation with large tech companies.
Townhall reports that the concern gained traction after Elon Musk acquired Twitter (now X), as the “Twitter Files” exposed widespread government efforts to suppress differing opinions on topics like COVID-19, elections, and more. The newly declassified plan reveals similar tactics applied to those suspected of domestic extremism.
As part of the effort, agencies were instructed to “Share with relevant technology and other private-industry companies… relevant information on DT-related and associated transnational terrorist online content.”
The plan also calls for an expansion of federal databases like the Terrorist Screening Database (TSDB) and the Terrorist Identities Datamart Environment (TIDE). Notably, it proposes including individuals with no foreign ties. According to the document, “TIDE and the TSDB include a greater number of known and suspected terrorists that are motivated by a variety of ideologies.”
Those listed in these databases could face travel bans, investigations, and other punitive actions—all without court orders or sufficient evidence. Essentially, this could allow surveillance and restrictions based purely on suspicion.
Further, the SIP advises agencies to “consider updated” forms for federal background checks to help flag individuals possibly connected to domestic terrorism. The concern is that individuals could be targeted for their beliefs, affiliations, or political views—rather than any criminal behavior. With the plan encouraging wide-reaching inter-agency cooperation, this could result in large-scale surveillance absent judicial oversight.
In addition to free speech and privacy issues, the plan poses challenges to Second Amendment rights. The Biden administration emphasized preventative strategies that included red flag laws, mental health initiatives, and behavioral assessments as means of limiting access to firearms—without necessarily providing due process.
Referring to firearms, the SIP advocates for reducing access to “lethal means,” which critics interpret as code for restricting gun ownership. Among its proposals: curbing the rise of so-called “ghost guns,” encouraging states to pass extreme risk protection orders, and pushing legislative actions to ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.
This approach aligns with tactics commonly used by gun control advocates—linking lawful gun ownership to domestic terrorism as a justification for stricter regulations. Some fear that a continued Democratic presence in the White House could mean even more aggressive gun restrictions under the guise of public safety.
Additionally, the plan might infringe on states’ rights. It advises considering how to work with states on enforcing laws that prohibit specific private paramilitary activities. The administration seemed prepared to pressure states into adopting measures like extreme risk protection orders and bans on certain firearms and accessories.
Although once classified, the document’s goals have already influenced federal actions. In 2021, the Biden administration’s National Strategy for Countering Domestic Terrorism reflected many of the SIP’s recommendations. A Government Accountability Office (GAO) report later confirmed that federal agencies had already begun implementing several aspects of the strategy, reports Townhall.
