The left-wing faction is in a state of disarray following the confirmation of reports that President Donald J.
Trump has appointed Thomas Fugate, a 22-year-old recent college graduate, to temporarily lead the Center for Prevention Programs and Partnerships (CP3) at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
According to Gateway Pundit, unnamed "experts" cited by ProPublica have labeled Fugate's appointment as "reckless." Barely a year after his graduation, Fugate, who does not seem to have any discernible national security expertise, is now a DHS official overseeing the government's primary hub for terrorism prevention, including an $18 million grant program designed to aid communities in combating violent extremism.
Fugate, a former Trump campaign worker and intern at the conservative Heritage Foundation, was appointed by the White House to a DHS role that was broadened to encompass the CP3. This office, known as CP3, has spearheaded nationwide initiatives to prevent hate-driven attacks, school shootings, and other forms of targeted violence.
Fugate's appointment is the most recent jolt for an office that has been severely reduced since President Donald Trump returned to the White House and began reshaping national security with a concentrated focus on immigration.
The announcement of the appointment has gradually emerged in recent weeks, causing concern among counterterrorism researchers and nonprofit groups funded by CP3. Several admitted they resorted to LinkedIn for information on Fugate, a newcomer in their field, and were taken aback by the image of a young college graduate with a flag pin on his lapel and a sharply raised eyebrow. His employment history does not list any experience in threat prevention.
People familiar with CP3 typically state that a candidate as inexperienced as Fugate would not have been considered for even a junior position, let alone be hired to manage operations. His primary leadership experience, according to LinkedIn, comes from his role as secretary general of a Model United Nations club.
One counterterrorism researcher who has collaborated with CP3 officials for years commented, "Maybe he's a wunderkind. Maybe he's Doogie Howser and has everything at 21 years old, or whatever he is, to lead the office. But that's not likely the case. It sounds like putting the intern in charge."
The Daily Beast joined the criticism, expressing alarm that Fugate's LinkedIn profile shows "almost no experience" in counterterrorism. The left-leaning outlet reported that Fugate was self-employed as a "landscape business owner" mowing lawns just five years ago when he was 17.
As recently as August 2023, Fugate was working at an H-E-B supermarket in Austin, Texas, stocking shelves and handling groceries while pursuing a degree in politics and law at the University of Texas at San Antonio, from which he graduated magna cum laude.
His LinkedIn profile, which has since been deleted, described his role at H-E-B as a "Cross Functional Team Member," where he performed "various activities around every department of the store."
Since leaving college, Fugate's political career has taken off. He served as an "advance team member" on President Donald Trump's 2024 campaign, according to his LinkedIn page. A committed Republican, he also interned at the Heritage Foundation, the think tank behind Project 2025, and for Texas Representatives Terry Wilson and Steve Allison.
ProPublica reported that Fugate was hired as a "special assistant" in an immigration office at the DHS in February. He then assumed control of CP3 after its previous director resigned.
A senior DHS official told the Daily Beast, "Tom Fugate has performed well in his current role as a Confidential Assistant in our Immigration & Border Security suboffice. Due to his success, he has been temporarily given additional leadership responsibilities in the Center for Prevention Programs and Partnerships office (CP3). This is a credit to his work ethic and success on the job."
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