A leaked internal threat assessment from the the Noem run Department of Homeland Security paints a stark picture of what federal officials see as the most pressing dangers facing the United States — and it isn’t foreign adversaries like Russia or China, according to the newly disclosed document obtained by independent journalist Ken Klippenstein.

The draft Homeland Threat Assessment, an annual report the department prepares to outline key risks the country faces, still includes the usual array of concerns — crime, drug gangs, border challenges, and election interference — but the leaked pages show a sharp emphasis on what DHS describes as terrorism stemming from “class-based or economic grievances.” The document suggests these domestic tensions may pose the leading threat to the “homeland.”

The assessment breaks threats into categories such as border and immigration security, critical infrastructure, economic risks, and public safety. But the section on domestic violent extremism stands out, detailing that such actors “have been the most active terrorist attackers and plotters and… will remain the case in 2026,” reflecting a shift in how the department views the threat environment.

That emphasis on domestic unrest comes at a politically fraught moment, with tensions between the public and homeland security agencies running high. In Minnesota, outrage erupted after Renee Good was shot and killed by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent during an enforcement action, fueling protests and criticism of federal law enforcement’s approach.

The leaked assessment’s use of broad language — such as linking violence to “class-based or economic grievances” that could encompass a wide range of Americans — has drawn scrutiny from legal and civil liberties commentators who warn that treating widespread social frustrations as precursors to terrorism could risk sweeping in protected political activity. Critics argue such definitions risk criminalizing dissent at a time when debates over immigration policy and federal enforcement are particularly volatile.

Government officials have not yet publicly released the full threat report, and DHS or Noem herself have not commented on the contents of the leaked material. But the leak has already ignited debate over how the nation defines its greatest security challenges — and whether the focus on internal divisions overshadows external threats that have historically dominated U.S. policy discussions.