Abstract The constant increase in the number of foreign terrorist organizations poses a severe threat to the security of the United States. This paper examines the profile of al-Qaeda, one of the well-known and dangerous extremist groups that unite supporters of radical Islamism. The organization is over 30 years, and during this time, it has not changed its intention to fight with Western countries, particularly the United States. Al-Qaeda’s resources and reach are crucial reasons to strengthen the country’s homeland security. Due to the 9/11 attacks, the government began targeted work to counter extremist threats. As a policy addressing this objective, the Department of Homeland Security Strategic Framework for Countering Terrorism and Targeted Violence has been reviewed, which was ratified in 2019. The assessment of how this framework works and whether it is relevant in the context of its objectives has been performed in the context of countering al-Qaeda. Recommendations for strengthening the policy are given, particularly the emphasis on improved training of the personnel involved, the expansion of intelligence capabilities through foreign partnerships to combat terrorism jointly, and bipartisan support. Introduction Countering the threats of terrorism is an urgent task of the national security bureaus of many countries due to increased extremists’ activities in recent years. The United States, being one of the world leaders in various indicators of economic, social, political, and other forms of development, has more than once become the target of foreign criminal groups. The terrorist attack of 9/11 became the starting point in the country’s active fight against terrorism, and confronting al-Qaeda, as the organization responsible for that bloody attack, is one of the US priority goals in the framework of ensuring homeland security. Al-Qaeda is banned on the territory of most world countries. However, being created in the late 1980s, it has developed into an extensive structure that includes many countries – Syria, Libya, the states of the Arabian Peninsula and the Caucasus, and other regions. As a potentially viable initiative to counter the al-Qaeda threat at the national level, a dedicated framework has been adopted by the Department of Homeland Security. The value of this policy lies in the fact that it addresses an immediate terrorist threat from the largest extremist groups, whose goal is to undermine the authority and integrity of the Western world (U.S. Department of Homeland Security). Countering al-Qaeda is one of the main purposes of this program that does not separate targeted violence from extremism. A deeper analysis of this framework can help identify its features and make recommendations for strengthening. Although al-Qaeda opposes globalization, it itself uses the fruits of this strategy for its own purposes actively, and addressing the threats emanating from this terrorist organization is of fundamental importance for the US homeland security. International Terrorist Organization’s Profile: Al-Qaeda Today, al-Qaeda is one of the most dangerous foreign terrorist organizations, whose activities pose a threat to both the security of the United States and the entire world. According to Burke (2021), al-Qaeda is translated from Arabic as the basis or foundation. This is an international terrorist organization that profes