U.S. intelligence officials are on high alert for terrorist acts that may be planned to upend celebrations planned to mark the country’s semiquincentennial this year.
At the start of 2026, the National Counterterrorism Center circulated a memo to staff, warning that “lone actors” inspired by al Qaeda and the Islamic State Group pose a possible threat to the 250th anniversary initiatives. The memo cites threats from media outlets with ties to the terrorist groups, as well as precedent, pointing to the ISIS-inspired man who plowed a vehicle through a New Orleans crowd last January, killing 14 people.
Lone actors will likely seek to exploit “soft targets” that have scattered security coverage in locations where multiple events occur simultaneously, the NCTC memo warned, particularly referencing Philadelphia’s move to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup match, an associated FIFA Fan Festival, and celebrations highlighting the city’s historic role in U.S. independence. Terrorists may also focus on targets such as parks, recreation areas, and temporary markets, “because of the perceived level of accessibility and potential vulnerabilities to simple attacks, such as knife attacks and vehicle rammings,” the memo added.
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard’s office, which oversees the NCTC, told the Washington Examiner it is encouraging “Americans to stay vigilant and pay heightened attention to their surroundings during the Semiquincentennial.
“As our country prepares to celebrate 250 years of American Independence, ODNI’s National Counterterrorism Center is working around the clock with law enforcement partners to detect and deter potential terrorist threats targeting public gatherings,” the DNI press secretary said, adding that federal, state, and local partners “remain committed to protecting these celebrations.”
The concerns come as the country has already begun to mark the semiquincentennial with a flood of initiatives, including a “nationwide potluck” of community picnics planned for July 6.
Major events coming up include several from Freedom 250, which is the organization President Donald Trump has spearheaded to mark the anniversary alongside America250, an entity created by Congress. Freedom Defense is hosting a National Prayer Gathering on the Washington Mall in May, and the Great American State Fair at the same location in late June and early July.
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Freedom 250 is planning to cap the country’s 250th anniversary on July 4 with fireworks on the Washington Mall, as Trump delivers a “major” presidential address.
The memo said possible terrorists would likely refrain from attacking “relatively hardened targets, such as Independence Hall in Philadelphia or the National Mall in Washington, D.C., despite their symbolic significance, because of their perceived physical inaccessibility.”