Trump Terrorism Hub: 22-Year-Old Leader – ProPublica
- Thomas Fugate, a recent college graduate, now oversees the Department of Homeland Security's main hub for terrorism prevention.
- CP3 leads nationwide efforts to prevent hate-fueled attacks,school shootings,and othre forms of targeted violence.
- News of the appointment has alarmed counterterrorism researchers and nonprofit groups funded by CP3.
Thomas Fugate, a 22-year-old with no national security experience, now leads the Department of Homeland Security‘s terrorism prevention hub. This shocking appointment by the Trump administration to oversee the Center for Prevention Programs and Partnerships (CP3) promptly draws scrutiny. Counterterrorism experts are raising serious concerns, pointing out Fugate’s lack of qualifications and the administration’s shift away from focusing on domestic extremism. The move has been met with warnings of “perilous territory” from former officials.The CP3, once a robust office, has been slashed, mirroring wider cuts to violence-prevention initiatives. News directory 3 highlights the implications of this sudden change in federal efforts to combat domestic extremism and targeted violence. Discover what’s next for the future of national security.
Trump Administration Taps Inexperienced Aide to Oversee Terrorism Prevention
Updated June 04, 2025
Thomas Fugate, a recent college graduate, now oversees the Department of Homeland Security’s main hub for terrorism prevention. The appointment of fugate, a 22-year-old former Trump campaign worker, to the Center for Prevention Programs and Partnerships (CP3) has sparked concern among counterterrorism experts.
CP3 leads nationwide efforts to prevent hate-fueled attacks,school shootings,and othre forms of targeted violence. Fugate’s background includes an internship at the Heritage Foundation and experience as secretary general of a model United Nations club, according to LinkedIn. He has no apparent national security expertise.
News of the appointment has alarmed counterterrorism researchers and nonprofit groups funded by CP3. One researcher, who has worked with CP3 officials for years, questioned Fugate’s qualifications, saying it was like ”putting the intern in charge.”
The trump administration’s decision to shift counterterrorism resources to immigration and appoint inexperienced individuals to violence-prevention roles has been described as “reckless” by current and former national security officials. One longtime U.S. counterterrorism official warned, “We’re entering very dangerous territory.”
The fate of CP3 reflects broader cuts to public health and violence-prevention initiatives across federal agencies. The office, once staffed with around 80 employees, now has fewer than 20, according to former staffers. Its mission has shifted away from focusing on domestic extremism, notably far-right movements, to include drug cartels.
A senior DHS official stated that Fugate’s CP3 duties were added to his role as an aide in an Immigration & Border Security office due to his “success.”
The trump administration rejects claims of retreating from terrorism prevention. A spokesperson, Abigail Jackson, said, “the notion that this single office is responsible for preventing terrorism is not only incorrect, it’s ignorant.”
What’s next
The appointment and the changes at CP3 raise questions about the future of federal efforts to combat domestic extremism and prevent targeted violence. The shift in priorities could have significant implications for community-based prevention programs and the overall national security landscape.