President Donald Trump’s recent appointment of 22-year-old Thomas Fugate to the Department of Homeland Security’s counterterrorism division is sparking backlash.
The White House appointed Fugate to DHS’s Center for Prevention Programs and Partnerships, which is responsible for preventing domestic terrorism and targeted violence.
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The news comes as Iran considers retaliating against the United States after three of Tehran’s nuclear sites were destroyed over the weekend in a bombing operation that Trump called “very successful.”
Detractors of the Trump administration are pointing to Fugate’s lack of experience in national security, arguing that he is unqualified for the job.
Fugate previously interned at the Heritage Foundation before working for the Trump campaign and joining DHS as a “special assistant” in an immigration office, ProPublica reported earlier this month. He succeeded CP3 Director Bill Braniff, who resigned in March after the Trump administration began cutting his staff at the counterterrorism hub.
Unlike Fugate, Braniff held more than two decades of national security experience. The 22-year-old assumed the position last month.
Fugate did some gardening in his neighborhood and worked at a supermarket, according to his LinkedIn page. He also served as secretary general of a Model United Nations club and graduated from the University of Texas at San Antonio last year.
“As our nation girds for possible Iranian terrorist attacks, this is the person Trump put in charge of terrorism prevention,” Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) posted on X. “22 years old. Recent work experience: landscaping/grocery clerk. Never worked a day in counter-terrorism. But he’s a BIG Trump fan. So he got the job.”
The appointment has also raised some eyebrows within DHS.
“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,” a counterterrorism researcher who has worked with CP3 told ProPublica. “It sounds like putting the intern in charge.”
There have been several high-profile attacks in recent weeks, with the gunning down of two Israeli Embassy aides in Washington, D.C., and the fatal shooting of a Minnesota Democrat and her husband. Another Minnesota lawmaker was shot, but he and his wife survived.
Regarding Iran, administration officials are concerned that sleeper cells may be activated to sow chaos domestically. There are no currently known threats.
“We’re entering very dangerous territory,” a longtime counterterrorism official said.
Despite the pushback against Fugate, the DHS says it broadly doesn’t matter because CP3 “plays an insignificant and ineffective role” within the larger department.
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“The Department of Homeland Security has a robust counterterrorism program, and the Center for Prevention Programs and Partnerships (CP3) office plays an insignificant and ineffective role in the broader efforts,” a DHS spokesperson told the Washington Examiner. “Unfortunately, under the Biden administration, CP3 was weaponized against political opponents and its main purpose was to funnel money to progressive groups. It should be no surprise to anyone, that the Trump Administration is making a diligent effort to end waste, fraud, and abuse— this office is just another example.”
“The Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Undersecretary has directly overseen efforts to reform this office and has tasked several staffers to assist with this.”