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Threats against public officials are rising, according to UNO’s counterterrorism group.UNO’s National Counterterrorism Innovation, Technology and Education Center found 133 threats to public officials in 2025, compared with 58 in 2022. That is a nearly 130% increase over three years.Director Gina Ligon said, “What we are on pace for is that 2026 should surpass that number,” and called it “the highest number on record over the past decade.”Ligon said increases in threats are “actually symptomatic of maybe a decrease in trust in the federal government or state and local governments.”She said the threats tend to rise during election years and “follow the news cycle.”“So when they’re on local media or national media on the weekend,” Ligon said, “oftentimes the next week is when they’re going to have higher numbers of threats.”READ MORE: White House correspondents’ dinner shooting: New court document includes suspect’s note to familyShe said online threats are a federal crime and that while some may be empty, others could lead to action, like Saturday’s shooting incident at the White House correspondents’ dinner.Rep. Mike Flood said the Secret Service “were running from table to table, literally running over the top of the tables to get to the front of the room.”Flood said he has gotten so used to angry constituents that he didn’t think about all the protestors outside, and said the shooting came as a shock.“I saw the Secret Service come up and just violently get JD Vance out of his seat,” Flood said. “They, like, just picked him up.”Ligon said while there are resources to monitor the rise in violent threats, she said there’s always room for improvement.“There’s some legislation right now in Nebraska about allowing people to use campaign funds for personal security,” Ligon said.Flood wants tensions to simmer down.“This is no way to live if this is where it’s going to be,” Flood said. “We had to figure this out.”Nebraska Rep. Don Bacon took to social media on Monday to address the shooting: “There’s indeed too much hate and demonization in our political discourse, and no side is immune. But this doesn’t excuse the radicalized folks from conducting violence. They’re still accountable and should be held fully responsible.” NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |
Threats against public officials are rising, according to UNO’s counterterrorism group.
UNO’s National Counterterrorism Innovation, Technology and Education Center found 133 threats to public officials in 2025, compared with 58 in 2022. That is a nearly 130% increase over three years.
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Director Gina Ligon said, “What we are on pace for is that 2026 should surpass that number,” and called it “the highest number on record over the past decade.”
Ligon said increases in threats are “actually symptomatic of maybe a decrease in trust in the federal government or state and local governments.”
She said the threats tend to rise during election years and “follow the news cycle.”
“So when they’re on local media or national media on the weekend,” Ligon said, “oftentimes the next week is when they’re going to have higher numbers of threats.”
READ MORE: White House correspondents’ dinner shooting: New court document includes suspect’s note to family
She said online threats are a federal crime and that while some may be empty, others could lead to action, like Saturday’s shooting incident at the White House correspondents’ dinner.
Rep. Mike Flood said the Secret Service “were running from table to table, literally running over the top of the tables to get to the front of the room.”
Flood said he has gotten so used to angry constituents that he didn’t think about all the protestors outside, and said the shooting came as a shock.
“I saw the Secret Service come up and just violently get JD Vance out of his seat,” Flood said. “They, like, just picked him up.”
Ligon said while there are resources to monitor the rise in violent threats, she said there’s always room for improvement.
“There’s some legislation right now in Nebraska about allowing people to use campaign funds for personal security,” Ligon said.
Flood wants tensions to simmer down.
“This is no way to live if this is where it’s going to be,” Flood said. “We had to figure this out.”
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Nebraska Rep. Don Bacon took to social media on Monday to address the shooting: “There’s indeed too much hate and demonization in our political discourse, and no side is immune. But this doesn’t excuse the radicalized folks from conducting violence. They’re still accountable and should be held fully responsible.”
NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |
