Executive Summary

As the 9/11 attacks marked a major shift for counterterrorism bodies globally, the resulting changes in U.S. security operations upgraded the role of interagency Joint Terrorism Task Forces (JTTF), making them a critical component in national counterterrorism efforts. The FBI’s JTTF model was established in 1980, was initially created by the bureau’s New York Field Office, and aimed to help investigate local terrorism threats. They are now found in 56 FBI field offices across the United States and are supported nationally by the National Joint Terrorism Task Force (NJTTF). Over 4,000 personnel are assigned to JTTFs, enabling unified, real-time threat detection and disruption across the United States. That said, the JTTF model faces several challenges that could complicate its effectiveness going forward.

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