ISIS Pushing US into ‘New Environment’ in Threats Against Homeland, Homeland Security Secretary Says

ABC News(NEW YORK) — The effective use of social media by the terror group ISIS has thrust the United States into a “new environment” when it comes to the threat against the homeland, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson said Sunday on ABC’s This Week.

“We’re definitely in a new phase in the global terrorist threat where the so-called lone wolf could strike at any moment,” Johnson told ABC’s Martha Raddatz. “It is a new environment, but we are not discouraging Americans from doing the things they do on a daily basis.”

The Pentagon raised the alert level at domestic military bases last week in response to calls for attacks on military installations from ISIS and other groups. It is the first time the threat level has been increased since the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks and will result in increased security measures on all U.S. bases.

Johnson said the Internet can make it more difficult to predict and intercept a planned attack. But he disagreed with Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., who called the government’s response to terrorist activity online “laughable” at a committee hearing earlier this week.

“The FBI in my judgment has done an excellent job of interdicting those who are attempting to travel to Syria, who commit overt acts in furtherance of material support to terrorism,” Johnson said.

Johnson and FBI Director James Comey held a video teleconference with local law enforcement officials Friday to discuss the threat of violent extremism. The call came days after two men attempted to attack a community center in Garland, Texas, where cartoonists were participating in a contest to draw the Prophet Muhammad.

Johnson said state and local law enforcement agencies need to be vigilant about possible threats and noted that he has ramped up communication between DHS and local law enforcement over the past 16 months. But when asked whether local communities are doing enough, Johnson said some agencies are “still a work in progress” and stressed the importance of engagement from within the Islamic community.

“It has to come from within the community,” he said. “It has to come from Islamic leaders, who frankly can talk the language better than the federal government can and so when I meet with community leaders, Islamic leaders, that’s one of the things that we urge them to do.”

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