Counterintelligence vs. Counterterrorism

By Dr. Angela Pierce  |  10/30/2026

Two key missions of the U.S. Intelligence Community include counterintelligence and counterterrorism. Both disciplines rely on intelligence to obtain information about homeland security threats to our national security.

Although each discipline has a different primary focus, there is some overlap between them. Broadly speaking, counterintelligence protects against foreign intelligence threats, and counterterrorism protects against terrorist threats. 

Intelligence Community Agencies

Within the Intelligence Community, multiple agencies are responsible for combating threats from foreign intelligence entities and terrorist groups. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the primary investigative agency of the U.S. Department of Justice, is the lead for domestic counterintelligence and counterterrorism. By contrast, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) focuses on intelligence gathering on threats originating and operating abroad.

Under the authority of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, two centers lead counterintelligence and counterterrorism coordination. These centers are:

• The National Counterintelligence and Security Center (NCSC) 

• The National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC)

The counterintelligence and counterterrorism work of these centers is also integrated with other intelligence and law enforcement agencies. These agencies can help to ensure that terrorists and other criminals face prosecution in the criminal justice system while upholding civil liberties.

What Is Counterintelligence? 

While there are multiple definitions of counterintelligence, U.S. policy and strategy documents define counterintelligence as information that is gathered and activities that are conducted to counter foreign intelligence activities. Current definitions include both defensive and offensive purposes. 

For example, the National Counterintelligence Strategy 2024 defines counterintelligence as “information gathered and activities conducted to identify, assess, deceive, exploit, disrupt, neutralize, warn of, or protect against espionage, other intelligence activities, malign influence, sabotage, or assassinations conducted for or on behalf of a foreign government or elements thereof; foreign organizations, persons, or their agents; or international terrorist organizations or activities.” 

The term Foreign Intelligence Entity (FIE) is often used in counterintelligence documents to denote a foreign actor involved in intelligence activities. There are several state and non-state actors that conduct surveillance and other intelligence activities, including:

• Foreign intelligence services
• International terrorist organizations
• Transnational criminal organizations
• Foreign cyber actors
• Foreign corporations 

Foreign Intelligence Threats and Other Priorities for Counterintelligence Agencies

Key focus areas of the counterintelligence workforce include foreign intelligence threats and targeting efforts, insider threats, cyber threats, economic espionage, and supply chain risk management. Executive Order 12333 governs U.S. intelligence activities and assigns counterintelligence responsibilities. 

Counterintelligence activities span different counterintelligence functions, which include operations, investigations, collection, analysis and production, and functional services. 

The spectrum of counterintelligence activities ranges from defensive to offensive. Defensive activities largely focus on protecting against a threat, such as background investigations, counterintelligence awareness training, and insider threat detection. 

Offensive counterintelligence includes more proactive targeting efforts or other actions to degrade intelligence threats. Activities such as double agent operations and foreign influence disruptions are on the more offensive side of the counterintelligence spectrum. 

National Security Priorities for Counterintelligence Agencies

The 2024 National Counterintelligence Strategy highlights how foreign intelligence entities target U.S. government agencies as well as cleared defense contractors, commercial organizations, think tanks, and academic institutions.

In addition to foreign intelligence services, the 2024 National Counterintelligence Strategy notes how non-state actors also target the United States, and foreign commercial organizations serve as enablers for foreign intelligence entities. In response to the current threat environment, the 2024 National Counterintelligence Strategy describes multiple goals to prioritize U.S. counterintelligence activities. 

Together, these priorities aim to counter foreign intelligence entities’ activities and degrade their capabilities. Counterintelligence personnel also work to protect individuals and institutions against being targeted by foreign intelligence entities and develop new counterintelligence capabilities and partnerships.

What Is Counterterrorism?

Counterterrorism focuses on terrorist groups and preventing terrorist attacks. According to the 2026 U.S. Counterterrorism Strategy, the U.S. counterterrorism mission is to “identify those groups that have the intent and capability to plot attacks against Americans and then neutralize them.” 

Executive Order 13354 describes the role of the National Counterterrorism Center and includes sharing terrorism information between agencies. Terrorism information refers to any information regarding plans, capabilities, finances, and threats of terrorist groups or individuals, as well as anyone who assists them.

Terrorist Groups and Other Priorities for Counterterrorism Agencies

Counterterrorism protects against terrorist groups and deters or undermines the support they receive from other actors, including terrorist financing. Similar to counterintelligence, counterterrorism activities span analysis, dissemination, investigations, collection, and operations. 

According to the NCTC website, key missions in support of counterterrorism activities include:

• Threat analysis
• Identity management
• Information sharing
• Strategic operational planning
• National intelligence management 

National Security Priorities for Counterterrorism Agencies

The 2026 National Counterterrorism Strategy prioritizes the neutralization of hemispheric terror threats and identifies three types of terror groups:

• Narcoterrorists and transnational gangs
• Legacy Islamist terrorists
• Violent left-wing extremists, including anarchists and anti-fascists

The 2026 National Counterterrorism Strategy also identifies three key functions for counterterrorism agencies:

• Identify terror actors and plots before they happen
• Cut off their weapons, funding, and recruiting streams
• Ultimately destroy established threat groups

How Counterintelligence and Counterterrorism Work Together

Collaboration between counterintelligence and counterterrorism professionals is vital since overlap can exist between the two disciplines. Ultimately, the activities of these professionals will continue to be important to counter current foreign and domestic security threats and maintain greater preparedness for future threats.

The Bachelor of Arts in Intelligence Studies at APU

For interested adult learners, American Public University part of American Public University System (“APU”) provides an online Bachelor of Arts in Intelligence Studies. For this degree program, students can enroll in courses that cover topics such as foreign intelligence organizations, threat analysis, and international relations. Other courses include critical analysis, law and ethics in intelligence studies, and research design and methods.

This bachelor’s degree in intelligence studies also has multiple concentrations to enable students to take courses suited to their professional interests:

• General
• Asian Area Studies
• Counterintelligence
• Criminal Intelligence
• Cyber
• Geospatial Intelligence
• Intelligence Analysis
• Intelligence Collection
• Intelligence Operations
• Latin American Area Studies
• Middle East Area Studies
• Terrorism Studies

Students who are particularly interested in studying counterintelligence, counterterrorism, and/or terrorism may want to explore the General, Counterintelligence, Intelligence Collection, Intelligence Operations, Intelligence Analysis, or Terrorism Studies concentrations.

For more information, visit APU’s security and global studies degree program page.