Attorney General Wants More Money to Fight ‘Domestic Terrorism’

Reports say the Biden administration is considering working with private firms to expand surveillance capabilities within the US

On Tuesday, US Attorney General Merrick Garland asked Congress to support his request for an increase in funding to combat “domestic terrorism.”

Garland told the House Appropriations subcommittee that he is asking for $85 million for this effort. Out of that money, $45 million would go to the FBI for domestic terror investigations, and $40 million would go to US attorneys that are prosecuting such cases.

Since the January 6th incident at the Capitol, the US government has been hyping the threat of so-called domestic extremists, raising fears of new domestic terror legislation that would have grave implications for civil liberties.

“We have a growing fear of domestic violent extremism and domestic terrorism,” Garland said on Tuesday. “Both of those keep me up at night.”

Because US intelligence agencies are limited by the law from spying on US citizens to some extent, the Biden administration is reportedly considering partnering with private firms to circumvent these limits. Sources told CNN that such a path was being considered within the Department of Homeland Security.

Author: Dave DeCamp

Dave DeCamp is the news editor of Antiwar.com, follow him on Twitter @decampdave.