Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum issued a chilling warning about a potential terrorist attack on the Statue of Liberty as the U.S. marks the 250th anniversary of its independence.
Speaking during a news conference in New York, Burgum lauded the U.S. Park Police, the oldest federal agency in the country, discussing their integral role in American history.
As he spoke about their work protecting the Statue of Liberty – one of America’s most iconic landmarks – he noted that it appears in images on most terrorist recruiting sites, warning that it could become the target of an attack one day.
“The Statue of Liberty, by the way, is the most featured image on terrorist recruiting sites,” Burgum said. “It’s the thing that, if someone could wreck our 250th anniversary…”
He went on to say that the U.S. Park Police screens over 4 million people who visit the monument each year before they board the iconic ferry that takes them to the island on which it sits.
“They protect the National Mall, the Golden Gate Recreation Area, but when you’re here on this ground today, at least 26,000 acres, the law enforcement for this national recreation is not the Metro – it’s not New York. It’s the U.S Park Police,” he said.
“They keep this facility safe. They keep the over 9 million visitors that visit this recreation area a year safe. They do a fantastic job.”
In New York City, two men who federal authorities say were inspired by the Islamic State brought powerful homemade bombs to a far-right protest outside the mayoral mansion.
In Michigan, a naturalized citizen from Lebanon rammed his vehicle into a synagogue, where he was shot at by security before he shot himself to death.
In Virginia, a man previously imprisoned on a terrorism conviction was heard yelling “Allahu akbar” before opening fire in a university classroom in an attack that officials said ended when the shooter was killed by students.
The three acts of violence in March have laid bare a heightened terrorism threat unfolding against the backdrop of the U.S. war with Iran and as the country’s counterterrorism system is strained by the departures of experienced national security professionals at the FBI and Justice Department. The firings and resignations, along with the diversion of resources and personnel over the last year to meet other Trump administration priorities, have fueled concerns about the capability to head off a potential surge in threats.
“So much experience has been decimated from the ranks,” said Frank Montoya, a retired senior FBI official. “The folks that were best positioned to get to the bottom of it before something really bad happened” are in many cases no longer with the government, he said, meaning less experienced personnel assigned to the threat are “starting from way behind.”
The FBI said it would not comment on personnel numbers and decisions, but issued a statement saying “agents and staff are dedicated professionals working around the clock to defend the homeland and crush violent crime. The FBI continuously assesses and realigns our resources to ensure the safety of the American people.”
Written by Jeremiah Hassel for Express U.S. ~ April 14, 2026