2020 Election Series: Overview of Domestic Threats to the 2020 Election

As the 2020 election approaches, concerns remain high regarding threats from foreign and domestic actors. The previous paper in this series detailed the threats emanating from foreign adversaries. However, a number of domestic threat actors, both left- and right-wing, remain capable of conducting various forms of threat activity associated with the election.

2020 Election Series: Overview of Foreign and Domestic Threats to the 2020 Election

The 2020 U.S. presidential election will be held on Tuesday 03 November 2020, amidst heightened political polarization, the global COVID-19 pandemic, and widespread civil rights protests under the Black Lives Matter movement. Incumbent President Donald Trump (a Republican) is set to face off against former Vice President Joe Biden, who is running on the Democratic Party ticket.

Chinese Territorial Ambitions and Potential Implications for the U.S.

From 1839-1949 China underwent what its own history describes as “a century of humiliation” in which it was repeatedly invaded by European, American, and Japanese troops. These nations eventually succeeded in their efforts to carve a piece of China away for their own empires or ensuring foreign control over Chinese economic affairs.

July 2020

Threats include:

  • Remains of Fort Hood Soldier Killed by Colleague Found | Insider Threat
  • Europol: Coronavirus-Related Lockdowns Provide Extremist Recruitment Opportunity | Terrorism
  • Neo-Nazis Are Running Out of Places to Hide Online | Terrorism
  • U.S. Strongly Rejects China’s Territorial Claims in South China Sea | Foreign Nation-State Military

Risks to DoD Supply Chain

The majority of the Department of Defense’s (DoD) supply chain management is overseen by the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA). Headquartered in Fort Belvoir, Virginia with six major subordinate commands, the DLA manages nine supply chains to fill orders and dispatch shipments to both deployed and non-deployed DoD forces and installations, along with FEMA, DHS, GSA, and select foreign military clients.