U.S. Intelligence Community Annual Threat Assessment Warns of Nation State Cyber Operations, Domestic Violent Extremism, and Extreme Weather

The Office of the Director of National Intelligence has released its Annual Threat Assessment of the U.S. Intelligence Community, which examines worldwide threat trends relevant to the security of the country. The report asserts, “Cyber threats from nation states and their surrogates will remain acute” and observes that nations can conduct operations to “steal information, influence populations, and damage industry, including physical and digital critical infrastructure.” It also states that, while many nations and non-state adversaries have the ability to conduct cyber operations, Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea represent the greatest threats. The report profiles these four nations and the extent of their respective abilities to attack and disrupt critical infrastructure, while noting Russia has developed a specific interest in industrial control systems.

In addition to examining cybersecurity threats, the report examines physical threats, citing “government facilities” among the targets of domestic violent extremists and notes individuals acting alone “increasingly choos[e] soft, familiar targets for their attacks, limiting law enforcement opportunities for detection and disruption.” It also discusses climate change, stating, “Scientists also warn that warming air, land, and sea temperatures create more frequent and variable extreme weather events, including heat waves, droughts, and floods that directly threaten the United States and US interests, although adaptation measures could help manage the impact of these threats.” Read the full report at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.