On the morning of September 11, 2001, Javed Ali was on his way to work in northern Virginia when he drove past the Pentagon. About half an hour later, American Airlines Flight 77 struck the building. From his office view in Falls Church, he could see the smoke rising from the Pentagon. A year later, in a notable twist reflecting the dramatic changes in the country, he found himself walking into the still-damaged building, now working in the Defense Intelligence Agency’s counterterrorism office.
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“It was an eerie and surreal moment,” Ali recalled. His career progressed from the DIA to the newly established Department of Homeland Security, and later to the FBI, giving him a front-row view of the extensive national security measures put in place following the deadly attack on U.S. soil.
Now, 25 years later, these measures present a complex picture. By various measures, the system put in place after 9/11 seems to have significantly reduced the chance of an attack as catastrophic as that day. The United States has not experienced another attack with a scale or complexity similar to 9/11, which took the lives of 2,977 people. Thanks to U.S. intelligence and military efforts, much of the al Qaeda network responsible has been dismantled, while new agencies, surveillance capabilities, watchlists, and intelligence-sharing systems have been established to strengthen American defenses. According to a 2026 U.S. intelligence assessment, these counterterrorism operations have hampered al Qaeda and ISIS’s ability to organize and conduct large-scale attacks within the U.S.
However, the success against the 2001 threats did not fully eliminate terrorism; it simply evolved.
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Today, many threats arise from individuals who are radicalized online, small groups that can strike with little warning, and foreign terrorist organizations that inspire attacks from a distance. Additionally, the growing risk from cyber threats complicates security measures, allowing adversaries to launch attacks without needing to board a plane.
So, the pivotal question two and a half decades after 9/11 is not just if Americans are safer overall. While they may be less vulnerable to certain types of attacks, they face new and changing dangers.
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Since 9/11, the American response has been expansive. Shortly after the attacks, President George W. Bush established the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), which was one of the largest civilian initiatives ever undertaken by the U.S. government at that time, focusing on security at airports. The following year, Congress created the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), uniting 22 federal agencies. Today, DHS employs over 260,000 people, covering areas such as border security, cybersecurity, and emergency response.
Authorities identified a need to improve communication and responsibility among various agencies to prevent future attacks, resulting in legislative efforts that have cost trillions over the years. The Costs of War Project from Brown University estimates that the wars and related obligations since 9/11 have cost around $8 trillion, with over $1.1 trillion dedicated to homeland security initiatives.
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Ali emphasized the enduring nature of the original threat. Even after the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan and the neutralization of several al Qaeda leaders, the organization continued to search for ways to exploit vulnerabilities in American defenses. During Ali’s time at DHS, officials were faced with multiple plots involving al Qaeda, including one in 2006 that aimed to target transatlantic flights from Britain.
With the death of al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in May 2011, one might have expected the end of significant jihadist threats. Instead, new challenges followed as ISIS emerged, rapidly gaining territory and influence, encouraging attacks worldwide. This shift marked a transition from facing organized groups to identifying individuals radicalizing in their home countries.
Increasingly, attacks were carried out by lone actors, disconnected from terrorist organizations, making them harder for authorities to detect.
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Threat assessments now reflect this shift. The 2026 Annual Threat Assessment from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence indicates that terrorist groups, impeded in their ability to conduct large-scale attacks, have turned to online propaganda to motivate and inspire individuals within Western nations. Authorities noted that there were at least three Islamist terrorist incidents in the U.S. during 2025, with law enforcement disrupting multiple plotters who had links to foreign terrorist organizations.
The vulnerability of America’s security system is underscored by incidents like the New Year’s Day attack in New Orleans, where a local resident drove a vehicle into a crowd, killing 14 people after becoming isolated and adopting extremist views. The FBI has pointed to the significant threat posed by lone actors and small radicalized groups, which can be very challenging to identify and counter.
IS AMERICA’S SECURITY SYSTEM OUTDATED?
The evolving threat landscape has sparked discussions about whether the practices established after 9/11 have become too bureaucratic or costly, especially as new forms of vulnerabilities surface. Critics argue that Washington has constructed a large, unwieldy bureaucratic structure at the expense of becoming agile and focused on current threats.
Leaders who worked in the previous administration expressed concern that over-structuring has distracted from emerging dangers, emphasizing that true security relies on proactive measures rather than reactive ones.
Finally, while the current system works to prevent another large-scale attack like 9/11, it must also adapt to recognize and respond to threats that may emerge in different forms. Ali asserts that the country must maintain pressure on emerging terrorist threats to avoid the complacency that existed in the years leading up to 9/11.
THE FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM CONTINUES
As the landscape of threat changes, he believes it’s essential to stay vigilant. Reflecting on the time since he witnessed the aftermath of the Pentagon attack, he understands that while progress has been made, the battle against terrorism is ongoing. The challenge remains: can America’s security systems keep up with threats that look nothing like those faced 25 years ago?
