Case Intel
- Sharp increase in politically and ideologically motivated violence nationwide renews debate over federal authority.
- Family Research Council reports 1,384 hostile acts against U.S. churches since 2018, with incidents nearly tripling since 2021.
- Legal scholars say the Insurrection Act grants presidents power to restore order when states fail to protect constitutional rights.
WASHINGTON, DC. – In a season marked by social tension and ideological polarization, new data show a troubling rise in violence against religious and political communities. The Family Research Council (FRC) documented 1,384 acts of hostility against churches between January 2018 and December 2024—ranging from vandalism and arson to bomb threats and armed assaults. Nearly 80 percent of these incidents occurred after 2021.
Legal observers say this surge, combined with high-profile attacks on faith institutions and political gatherings, has reignited debate over how and when a president can intervene to restore national stability. Many are once again examining the Insurrection Act, one of the most powerful—yet rarely used—tools available to the executive branch.
