Former FBI official warns terror threat elevated for New Year’s Eve
Americans urged to be careful during New Year’s celebrations
Former FBI Deputy Director Chris Swecker discusses DHS’s warnings about New Year’s celebrations and law enforcement security measures amid terrorism threat concerns, encouraging Americans to remain vigilant and report suspicious activity.
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As federal, state and local law enforcement agencies step up security across the country ahead of New Year’s Eve celebrations, a former top FBI official warned that the terrorist threat remains high but encouraged Americans not to let fear dictate their plans.
“We will not bend the knee to terrorist activity,” former FBI Deputy Director Chris Swecker said Wednesday on “Fox & Friends.”
Six-foot tall figures representing “2026” are displayed at One Times Square in New York City on December 26, 2025, during a lighting ceremony ahead of this year’s New Year’s Eve celebration in Times Square. (Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images)
“There’s always been a high terrorist threat around New Year’s and the holidays,” he continued, pointing to the ISIS-inspired terrorist attack that shook New Orleans in early 2025 and a recent foiled New Year’s Eve bombing plot in Southern California.
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California suspected he was planning attacks on multiple businesses and discussed targeting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers, according to court documents. Prosecutors allege they are affiliated with the extremist anti-government group Turtle Island Liberation Front.
Chris Swecker testifies before the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on December 9, 2020 (Samuel Çorum/Getty Images)
Despite the threats, Swecker urged revelers to “just be aware and alert” and praised the capabilities of the country’s security and intelligence agencies, especially in metropolitan areas.
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“There is a lot of security out there, especially in New York City, Chicago, D.C. and LA,” Swecker said. “These cities will be virtual castles.”
He encouraged the public to immediately report suspicious behavior to police officers or security personnel.
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“Intelligence activity is on hypermotor right now,” the former FBI official said, emphasizing that many plots have already been foiled.
As an example, he cited a recent case involving the New York Police Department, which he described as “one of the best in the business.” A Texas man was charged this week with providing bomb parts and money to people he believed were acting on behalf of ISIS, according to a Department of Justice press release.
