Faith-Based Security Advisory Council

The Faith-Based Security Advisory Council (FBSAC) provides organizationally independent, strategic, timely, specific and actionable advice to the Secretary through the Assistant Secretary for Partnership and Engagement whom also serves as the DHS Faith-Based Organization Security Coordinator. The FBSAC provides advice and recommendations to the Secretary and other senior leadership on matters related to protecting houses of worship, preparedness and enhanced coordination with the faith community. FBSAC advice may include:

• Strategy and Policy: Recommendations for the development and implementation of strategies and policies that will further the Department’s ability to prevent, protect against, respond to, and recover from acts of targeted violence or terrorism, major disasters, cyberattacks, or other threats or emergencies against places of worship, faith communities, and faith-based organizations.
• Information-sharing and Coordination: Recommendations for improving coordination and sharing of threat and security-related information and resources with and between places of worship, faith-based organizations non-profit entities, and the federal, state, local, tribal, territorial, and private sector partners. This includes, but is not limited to, recommendations on proposed technical assistance and other resources that include the perspectives of a wide range of faith communities represented in a culturally competent manner, and address potential barriers, such as language access, and ways to build and rebuild relationships of trust between federal government and faith communities.
• Programs and Initiatives: Recommendations for the development and implementation of specific programs or initiatives to prevent, protect against, respond to, and recover from acts of targeted violence or terrorism, major disasters, cyberattacks, or other threats or emergencies while preserving individual privacy and civil rights and civil liberties.
• Evaluation and Feedback: Recommendations for the efficiency and effectiveness of the Department’s policies, strategies, and programs (including grant programs) intended to support the security and preparedness of places of worship, faith communities, and faith-based organizations. This includes, but is not limited to, providing feedback on how DHS can address the needs of faith communities against evolving and future threats.

Latest Recommendations

• June 24, 2024 | FBSAC Combatting Online Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (CSEA) Subcommittee Final Report
• June 24, 2024 | FBSAC Countering and Responding to Targeted Violence and Terrorism (TVT) Subcommittee Final Report
• June 24, 2024 | FBSAC Countering Transnational Repression (TNR) Subcommittee Final Report

Press Releases

• June 8, 2023 | Secretary Mayorkas Brings Together Faith Leaders to Discuss Efforts to Enhance DHS’s Work to Protect Houses of Worship