WASHINGTON, DC — FBI Director Kash Patel temporarily halted some cooperation with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in 2026. The pause followed an announcement by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation reminding journalists not to refer to the September 11 attacks as "terrorism" without attribution to experts.

During the suspension of collaboration, FBI officials canceled meetings with their Canadian counterparts. The pause did not involve every element of cooperation between the FBI and the RCMP, which serves as the Canadian federal police service.

Patel addressed the issue in a post on X/Twitter regarding the CBC guidance. ""Any agency in Canada that doesn’t publicly reject this bastardization of history, and an insult to the souls lost during our largest terrorist attack in US history, will no longer have friends in this FBI… Not to mention our heroes that responded in the aftermath, Patel wrote. He added in a separate post, WE WILL NEVER FORGET 9-11."" Patel has served as the director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation since 2025 and previously served as acting director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives from February to April 2025.

The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation reversed its stance and issued updated guidance in August stating that the term "terrorism" could be used without the need for attribution. Canadian Culture Minister Marc Miller commented on the revision. Miller said that CBC’s updated guidance brought a ""welcome change to what was a piece of pedantic and foolish guidance that caused legitimate anger." A Royal Canadian Mounted Police spokesperson also addressed the situation. The spokesperson said: We value our relationship with our US counterparts, as we work closely to respond to threats to national security and maintain situational awareness of emerging risks."

Why It Matters

The temporary halt in cooperation shows the sensitivity surrounding the historical record of the September 11 attacks and the role of media guidance in shaping public discourse. The involvement of high-level officials, including the FBI Director and the Canadian Culture Minister, reflects the diplomatic and operational stakes of cross-border law enforcement relationships. The resolution of the dispute through updated media guidelines demonstrates how institutional policies can impact international security partnerships.

Timeline

On September 11, 2001, 24 Canadians died in the September 11 attacks. On August 31, 2026, the CBC reversed its stance and issued updated guidance in August stating that the term "terrorism" could be used without the need for attribution. On September 11, 2026, the pause in cooperation appears to have ended around the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks.

What's New

Additional reporting identifies the Royal Canadian Mounted Police as the Canadian federal police service. Further context notes that Kash Patel has served as the director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation since 2025. Records also show that Kash Patel served as acting director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives from February to April 2025.