Faith-Based Daily Awareness Post 21 March 2025

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. 

Cybersecurity Experts Are Sounding the Alarm on DOGE 

The article discusses concerns raised by cybersecurity experts regarding Elon Musk’s DOGE, which has made significant cuts to federal programs, including cybersecurity positions and contracts. Experts warn that these changes could increase the risk of data breaches, fraud, and privacy violations, particularly with sensitive government data, such as veterans’ records and financial information. The reduction in cybersecurity personnel and oversight could allow bad actors to exploit vulnerabilities, potentially leading to identity theft, fraud, and national security risks. Furthermore, experts are concerned about the long-term consequences of these systemic changes, which could disrupt critical government services and infrastructure. 

Analyst Comments: Faith-Based communities often store sensitive data related to personal information, donations, and community members, and are not immune to cybersecurity attacks.  Faith-Based communities may be affected by administration decisions as a whole if the U.S. government is less capable of mitigating and supporting cyber attacks, but also individual members of communities that might have their personal information unintentially exposed through DOGE efforts.. This is a reminder to adopt good cyber hygiene practices and members can find good information on those in our Resource Library – FB-ISAO. 

Former employee accused of stealing $30K from Rock Hill church 

 A former employee, Jennifer Farmer, is accused of stealing $30,000 from Oakdale Baptist Church in Rock Hill, South Carolina. Farmer is charged with breach of trust with fraudulent intent after using a church credit card for personal purchases over several years. She allegedly tried to cover up the theft by deleting computer records. If convicted, Farmer faces up to 10 years in prison. This case highlights the risks churches face in preventing financial misconduct and maintain trust with their congregations.  

Analyst Comments: Faith-based organizations continue to face challenges when it comes to financial oversight and security. This case underscores the need for churches to have clear policies in place regarding employee responsibilities and the use of church funds, and to develop proper control measures to ensure policies are being adhered to. 

Potential Terror Threat Targeted at Health Sector – AHA & Health-ISAC Joint Threat Bulletin – Health-ISAC – Health Information Sharing and Analysis Center 

Earlier this week, the American Hospital Association (AHA) and Health-ISAC released a bulletin related to an observed social media post indicating active planning of a coordinated, multi-city terrorist attack on hospitals in the coming weeks. The organizations do note that generally, foreign terrorist groups do not publicize their upcoming attacks. However, they believe this widely viewed post may encourage others to engage in malicious activity directed toward the health sector.  

Analyst Comments: This social media excitement is very reminiscent of a similar incident relating to a supposed Halloween Shopping Mall threat a few years back. Such incidents may be based on some level of actual intelligence or reporting but often get spun up by circular reporting and “Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt” (FUD). Since the release of this bulletin, several state and local fusion centers have emphasized that there is no credible reporting to substantiate this threat. All threats should be taken seriously but also cautiously assessed.  

Exclusive: FBI scales back staffing, tracking of domestic terrorism probes 

The FBI has cut staffing in an office focused on domestic terrorism and has scrapped a tool used to track such investigations, in a shift that could undermine law enforcement’s ability to counter white supremacists and anti-government extremists, according to sources familiar with the matter. The moves, sources said, are an indication that domestic terrorism investigations, which in recent years have largely involved violence fueled by right-wing ideologies, may be less of a priority under FBI Director Kash Patel, a prominent critic of the effort. Some sources said the changes will reduce the FBI’s ability to monitor threats posed by white supremacists and militia groups and potentially hamper law enforcement’s ability to disrupt plots. The moves come despite repeated warnings from U.S. officials in recent years that domestic violent extremists present some of the most significant security threats to the United States. 

• FBI has reassigned staff in domestic terrorism 
• Probes no longer tagged as tied to violent extremism 
• Moves follow Republican criticism of earlier efforts 

Analyst Comments: The recent shifts within the FBI, including cuts to the staffing in its office focused on domestic terrorism and the discontinuation of a tool used to track such investigations, could have significant consequences for law enforcement’s ability to respond to and counteract domestic violent extremism. As with any change in administration, there will be different operational priorities. FB-ISAO will continue to track domestic terrorism threats, as we track the all-hazards threat landscape.