Faith-Based Daily Awareness Post 22 May 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. 

2 staff members of Israeli embassy killed in shooting near Jewish museum in DC

On the evening of May 21, 2025, two staff members of the Israeli Embassy in Washington, D.C. were fatally shot outside the Capital Jewish Museum following a diplomatic event. The suspect, Elias Rodriguez, reportedly shouted “Free, free Palestine” upon arrest. Authorities believe this was a targeted antisemitic act, although they assert there is no ongoing community threat.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the attack, highlighting the rising antisemitism and its tragic consequences. The FBI classified the incident as a potential act of targeted violence. The attack occurred amid escalating tensions due to Israel’s military actions in Gaza, which have resulted in over 53,000 deaths and widespread displacement. The tragic incident has prompted tighter security at Israeli missions and raised significant concerns in the Jewish community, particularly given recent increases in antisemitic behavior.

Related Articles:

• 2 Israeli Embassy staff shot and killed in front of Capital Jewish Museum in DC
• Killings in Washington follow series of attempted terror attacks against US Jews

Analyst Comments: The fatal shooting of two Israeli Embassy staff members outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., has intensified concerns over rising antisemitism amid global tensions. The attack, which authorities believe was a targeted hate crime, has drawn condemnation from international leaders and led to increased security around Israeli institutions. Faith-based organizations and interfaith coalitions have responded by urging solidarity, pushing for security funding, and launching educational initiatives to counter antisemitic rhetoric and violence. FB-ISAO provides resources on Securing Facilities and People.

FEMA Has Canceled Its 4-Year Strategic Plan Ahead of Hurricane Season

Less than two weeks before the 2025 hurricane season, FEMA rescinded its 2022–2026 Strategic Plan without introducing a replacement. Acting Administrator David Richardson stated that the previous plan’s goals did not align with FEMA’s core mission and announced plans to develop a new 2026–2030 strategy over the summer.

The rescinded plan, implemented under former Administrator Deanne Criswell, emphasized equity and climate resilience. Its removal has raised concerns among FEMA staff, who rely on such documents to guide agency priorities and actions. Some fear this move is part of a broader effort to dismantle prior administration policies addressing equity and climate change.

Related Article: NOAA predicts above-normal 2025 Atlantic hurricane season

Analyst Comments: FEMA’s cancellation of its 2022–2026 Strategic Plan just before hurricane season raises serious concerns about organizational readiness and continuity. Strategic plans serve as roadmaps for agency priorities, coordination, and resource allocation, especially in high-stakes environments like disaster response. Without a current plan in place, staff and partners may lack clear guidance, potentially complicating efforts to respond effectively to emergencies. From an operational standpoint, maintaining a consistent and actionable framework is essential for ensuring resilience, coordination, and public trust. Gate 15 Weekly Security Sprint has a podcast on hurricane preparedness you can find here, and we encourage members to review our previous Weekly Report on hurricane preparedness for additional considerations.

Review of Security Teams in Light of Recent Legislation in California

Join a discussion on the effects to security teams, how they operate, and what requirements they may need to meet pursuant to a bill that was just passed in the state of California.

The discussion will take place on 22 May 2025 at 5pm ET.

• This is a member ONLY event.
• Register Here.

Weekly Security Sprint EP 112. Clinic bombing, Coinbase incident, and weathe

The Gate 15 Security Sprint is a weekly rundown of the week’s notable all-hazards security news, risks and threats and some of the key focus areas for organizations to consider behind the headlines. Gate 15 team members discuss physical security, cybersecurity, natural hazards, health threats and other issues across our environment.

This week Security Spring discusses:

• Palm Springs Bombing
• Coinbase & Insider Threat

Information on other Gate 15 podcasts can be found at Podcast.