U.S. Capitol Police Report Nearly 15,000 Threats Against Congress Members in Record 2025 Spike
Capitol Police officers adjust security barriers around the East Plaza at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2025. With just days to go before federal money runs out with the end of the fiscal year on Tuesday, Sept. 30, Congress has failed to pass legislation to keep the government running after becoming deadlocked during votes late last week. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
The U.S. Capitol Police reported a surge in threats against members of Congress, their families, staff, and the U.S. Capitol complex during 2025, with investigations into more than 14,938 concerning statements, behaviors, and communications — an increase from the 9,474 incidents reviewed in 2024.
This marks the third consecutive year of rising threat levels, according to the Capitol Police’s Threat Assessment Section. The threats range from hostile social media posts to direct targeting of lawmakers, underscoring growing security concerns amid heightened political tensions nationwide.
Capitol Police Chief Michael Sullivan stated that the department has been expanding coordination with law enforcement agencies across the country to help protect members of Congress, particularly when they are outside Washington. “We want to make sure agencies have the resources they need to be able to enhance protection, which is critical to the democratic process,” Sullivan said.
The report was released hours before Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., was sprayed with an unidentified liquid during a town hall she was holding in Minneapolis on Tuesday.
The findings also come amid a series of high-profile political violence incidents nationwide over the past 18 months, including:
– The killing of conservative leader Charlie Kirk at a college campus event
– The shooting of two Minnesota state lawmakers last summer that left one dead
– An arson attack on the Pennsylvania governor’s mansion while Gov. Josh Shapiro and his family were inside
– President Donald Trump being shot at a political rally during the 2024 presidential campaign
Capitol Police emphasized reducing violent political rhetoric as one of the most effective ways to address the rising number of threats, a call echoed by lawmakers from both parties following incidents of violence.
The department has expanded its Protective and Intelligence Operations Center, launched in 2024, which operates around the clock to process and assess threats against lawmakers in coordination with the House and Senate sergeants-at-arms. “We, and both sergeants-at-arms, are seeing an increase of reporting through our outreach efforts with the congressional community,” said Jeanita Mitchell, acting assistant chief of police for Protective and Intelligence Operations.
