FBI Director Christopher Wray warns ISIS could soon inspire 'large-scale' terror attack in the U.S. and reveals the BIGGEST threat to the American people as he defends his $11billion budget

FBI Director Christopher Wray on Thursday will warn Congress that the U.S. is at risk of terror attacks from within that are fashioned by ISIS.

He will say the 'greatest terrorism threat' to the U.S. is 'posed by lone actors or small cells of individuals who typically radicalize to violence online.' 

The number of domestic terrorism investigations over the past four years has 'more than doubled,' Wray will say according to his opening remarks obtained by DailyMail.com.

The threats are coming from primarily racially or ethnically motivated violent extremists (RMVEs) and anti-government and anti-authority violent extremists (AGAAVEs).

At the end of fiscal year 2023, the FBI was conducting 2,700 investigations within its domestic terrorism program and 4,000 probes with its international program. 

Wray, who has led the FBI under both Donald Trump and Joe Biden, will be on Capitol Hill making his pitch for an $11.6 billion budget in 2025. 

FBI Director Christopher Wray on Thursday will warn Congress that the U.S. is at risk of terror attacks from within that are fashioned by ISIS

Republican leadership in their recently passed 2024 budget touted 'deep cuts' to the FBI of around six percent, bringing the budget to $10.7 billion.

'Over the past year, the threats facing our nation have escalated. These threats emanate from myriad sources – nation-states, hostile foreign intelligence services, and criminals,' Wray will warn the Appropriations Committee's subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations. 

'They range from homegrown violent extremists (HVEs) to sophisticated cyber attacks, from internet facilitated sexual exploitation of children to human trafficking, from violent gangs and criminal organizations to public corruption and corporate fraud.'

Wray will say the FBI 'remains concerned about the intent of FTOs, such as ISIS and al-Qaida and their affiliates, to carry out or inspire large-scale attacks in the United States.'

Amid war in Gaza, Wray warned in a speech earlier this week: 'The ongoing war in the Middle East has raised the threat of an attack against Americans inside the United States to a whole ‘nother level.'

The FBI has seemed to shift its focus abroad from Hamas to ISIS-Khorasan, known as ISIS-K. 

Wray, whose agency focused heavily on the Hamas threat after the October 7 attack in Israel, now will tell Congress 'we have no information to indicate that Hamas has the intent or capability to conduct operations inside the United States, though we cannot, and do not, discount that possibility.' 

But after an ISIS-K attack at the Crocus City Hall in Moscow, Russia where 134 were killed, nations the world over are on high alert. 

The terrorist attack during a concert in Moscow's Crocus City Hall left more than 140 dead and over a hundred wounded

Saidakrami Murodali Rachabalizoda, a suspect in the shooting attack at the Crocus City Hall concert venue

Members of Congress have been demanding classified briefings on the threat of ISIS-K and the non-partisan Congressional Research Service has raised concerns about the U.S. ability to conduct 'over-the-horizon counterterrorism operations' in Afghanistan to thwart the group's future operations. 

ISIS-K, the Islamic State group's lethal Afghanistan affiliate, is now centralized in Asia and the Caucasus region and has brought in surviving fighters from al-Qaeda.

United Nations experts believe ISIS-K has between 4,000 and 6,000 fighters. 

Wray noted that ISIS has been worn down in the Middle East, it is 'successful' at social media and messaging, and luring followers from within the U.S.

Last month, Gen. Michael 'Erik' Kurilla, leader of Central Command, told the Senate Armed Services Committee that ISIS-K 'retains the capability and the will to attack U.S. and Western interests abroad in as little as six months with little to no warning.'

Wray will go on: 'Despite its loss of physical territory in Iraq and Syria, ISIS remains relentless in its campaign of violence against the United States and its partners— here at home and overseas.'

'ISIS and its supporters continue to aggressively promote its hate-fueled rhetoric and attract likeminded violent extremists with a willingness to conduct attacks against the United States and our interests abroad.'

'ISIS' successful use of social media and messaging applications to attract individuals is of continued concern to us.'

'Like other foreign terrorist groups, ISIS advocates for lone offender attacks in the United States and Western countries via videos and other English language propaganda that have specifically advocated for attacks against civilians, the military, law enforcement and intelligence community personnel.'

Wray will also raise the threats of North Korea, Iran and China, telling Congress the 'greatest long-term threat to our Nation's ideas, innovation, and economic security is from PRC foreign intelligence and economic espionage.'

'The PRC aspires to reshape the international rules-based system to its benefit, often with little regard for international norms and laws.'