Law enforcement ramps up security at NYE celebrations nationwide, warns Americans to be vigilant

Federal and local law enforcement are ramping up security measures Wednesday at New Year's Eve celebrations across the country, and have warned Americans to be vigilant this year as they welcome in 2026.

The warning comes a year after 15 people were killed in a terror attack in New Orleans, when a driver drove his truck into a crowd of partiers on Bourbon Street. Hundreds of National Guard troops are already patrolling New Orleans this year in case of an attempted repeat. 

The FBI and Department of Homeland Security said in a joint bulletin reviewed by CBS News that there is no specific threat to festivities this year, but noted that lone actors and small groups pose the most significant threat to New Year's Eve celebrations.

The New York Police Department is working to increase its security in Times Square ahead of the nation's largest celebration, by deploying its Emergency Services Unit, canine units, bomb squads, and heavy weapons teams.

The department is also adding a secondary screening inside the secure viewing zones around the ball drop, according to NYPD Commssioner Jessica Tisch. 

“The secondary screening is something that is net-new this year,” Tisch said in a press conference. "It's based on what we've learned over the past year and what we have seen throughout the world in the terrorism space. If we see anything that looks suspicious, we will have teams in place to do appropriate screening.”

National Guard troops are also patrolling in Las Vegas, Nevada, CBS News also reported. 

Federal law enforcement officers are also montioring online chatter about potential attacks. The FBI successfully thwarted a planned attack in California earlier this month, that was expected to take place in Los Angeles on New Year's Eve. 

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.