Faith-Based Daily Awareness Post 06 December 2023

These updates are shared to help raise the situational awareness of Faith-Based organizations to best defend against and mitigate the impacts from all-hazards threats including physical security, cybersecurity, and natural disasters. 

DHS Releases Physical Security Performance Goals for Faith-Based Communities.

Building on longstanding efforts and redoubling work to support faith-based communities in response to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, today, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), through Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), released new resources to help houses of worship and other faith-based organizations enhance their security. These Physical Security Performance Goals – modeled after the successful Cybersecurity Performance Goals – are a collection of cost-effective actions specifically tailored for faith-based organizations that can be implemented to reduce risk without sacrificing accessibility. This is the latest resource the Biden-Harris Administration is offering to faith-based organizations in response to the current heightened threat environment.

• Because Houses of Worship are the center for regular faith-based services and gatherings across the country, they are vulnerable as potential targets for malicious actors. The Physical Security Performance Goals for Faith-Based Organizations establish a baseline set of security practices to help houses of worship plan for, protect against, and respond to threats. Understanding that all facilities are different, the goals allow organizations to create tailored, actionable plans that will address their specific needs and serve their community.
• “While the threat environment continues to be challenging across all faiths, houses of worship and other faith-based organizations and people are often targets. Preparedness is key to mitigating risk,” said Mayya Saab, Executive Director of the Faith-Based Information Sharing and Analysis Organization  and DHS Faith-Based Security Advisory Council  member. “The Physical Security Performance Goals for Faith-Based Communities resource provides a visual guide to a goal setting activity that can help houses of worship and faith-based organizations prioritize security goals based on understanding their unique risk. The guide will be especially helpful to less resourced houses of worship.”

Related item:

• A new Homeland Security guide aims to help houses of worship protect themselves

Analyst Comments:

Faith-Based Organizations should consider utilizing the above Physical Security Performance Goals, with their recommendations, especially since FBI Director Wray warns that the US is facing highest risk of terrorism in years over Israel-Hamas war. Director Wray told the Senate Judiciary Committee that elevated threat levels are causing “blinking red lights everywhere” and the bureau was “working around the clock” to identify potential attacks inspired by Hamas. “The threat level has gone to a whole ‘nother level since Oct. 7,” Wray said. “I have never seen a time where all the threats are all elevated, all at exactly the same time.” While the FBI has yet to find any evidence that Hamas “has the intent or capability to conduct operations inside the US,” Wray warned that supporters or sympathizers of the terrorist group could launch attacks on the group’s behalf… he noted that the war has also led to a “troubling trend” of growing antisemitic and Islamophobic threats in the US.

In addition to DHS’ Physical Security Performance Goals, a wide variety of resources are available on the Faith-Based ISAO website’s Resource Library,

Useful information is also available in Gate 15’s recent Weekly Security Sprint EP 45. Physical Security incidents, geo-political considerations, weather updates, and more.

Up to the minute information and resources will be provided during today’s Pre-Holiday Security Briefing and Training for Faith-based Communities. Information on the briefing is below.

REMINDER of TODAY’S

Pre-Holiday Security Briefing and Training for Faith-based Communities

DHS & DOJ INVITATION 12/6 @1PM EST: Pre-Holiday Security Briefing and Training for Faith-based Communities Webinar

DHS Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships

Pre-Holiday Security Briefing and Training for Faith-based Communities

Hosted By:

U.S. Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Department of Justice

Date: Wednesday, December 6, 2023

Time:  1:00-2:30pm EST 

As communities prepare for holiday celebrations and gatherings, senior leadership from the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice will provide an up-to-date threat assessment, basic training on identifying and preventing potential hate and security incidents and share resources for faith communities.

This invitation is closed to the press.

Register in advance for this webinar.

Webinar Registration – Zoom (zoomgov.com) 

The following is from a Media Advisory:

WEDNESDAY: DHS and DOJ to Meet With Faith Leaders, Provide Update on Security Resources and Training Ahead of Holiday Season. As some faith groups begin their holiday season, the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice will host a conference call with faith leaders to share best practices on identifying and preventing potential hate and security incidents. DHS will discuss new resources to help prepare for and prevent acts of targeted violence. This engagement is another effort made by DHS to help ensure the safety of communities across the country. As part of longstanding efforts and in the department’s work   DHS also created a landing page for the public to view available resources in one place as well as continues to engage with our Faith-Based Security Advisory Council frequently to ensure timely information sharing with communities. Please note the Secretary and Attorney General’s opening remarks are open press. The rest of the engagement is closed to press.

• WHO: 
  • Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas
  • Attorney General Merrick B. Garland
• WHAT: Engagement with Faith-Based Leaders and Community Organizations                       
• WHEN: December 6, 2023, 1:00pm ET
• WHERE: Media may view those remarks at dhs.gov/live.