Young "Trumplican" Takes Charge: Thomas Fugate Heads U.S. Extremism Prevention
- by Niels Kruse
- 3 Min
Young Trump advocate, aged 22, spearheads U.S. efforts to deter extremism - Young Supporter of Trump Leads U.S. Counter-Radicalization Efforts at Age 22
With a star-patterned tie and a youthful spirit, Thomas Fugate, likely 22, now helms U.S. terrorism prevention. After his jubilant exclamation on LinkedIn, "Blasting off" marked his graduation from political science studies, his swift career climb comes as no surprise.
A "Prodigy" or Fresh Leadership?
Critics question the qualifications of the newly-appointed department head, especially given his background in neighborhood gardening, supermarket work, and Model United Nations Club leadership. An anti-terrorism veteran dismisses the idea of Fugate as a prodigy, likening it to "making a trainee the boss."
But Fugate didn't dwell on internships. Hopping onto the U.S. Department of Homeland Security bandwagon in early 2023, he made a meteoric rise, starting as a "special assistant." The government agency praised Fugate's "achievements and work ethic," but declined to elaborate.
From Budget of $0 to $18 Million
As the head of the revamped "Center for Prevention, Programs and Partnerships" (CP3), Fugate now manages an $18 million budget for preventing extremism and violence. CP3 has undergone significant downsizing, from about 80 to a mere 20 civil servants, leaving a substantial task backlog.
His predecessor, Bill Braniff, who resigned in March 2025, had praised CP3's support for communities in combating extremist violence, receiving nearly $90 million since 2020.
A Whispered Department
Controversy surrounds the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, headed by the far-right politician Kristi Noem since Donald Trump's election victory. Known for her authoritarian management style, Noem reportedly oversees her employees with lie detector tests in the name of anti-corruption efforts.
Upon reaching out to CP3 members for comments, "ProPublica" found mostly closed doors. Conversations with employees were only possible under the condition of anonymity, for fear of reprisals from the Trump administration.
Sifting through Fugate's Instagram account, "ProPublica" uncovers the 13-year-old's political awakening: inspired by Donald Trump, he adopted the moniker "Trumplican" – a merger of Trump and Republican.
A Young Aid or Babysitter for CP3?
Puzzling is how someone like Thomas Fugate, amid controversy and limited background in national security, managed to grab the Anti-Terrorism Department's top job. One theory suggests the Trump administration sought to reward a young campaign aide with a seemingly defunct, powerless position. Another theory puts Fugate as a babysitter, overseeing CP3's wind-down.
Sources: "ProPublica", "Economic Times", "Daily Beast"
- Donald Trump
- Kristi Noem
Insights:
In an unusual turn of events, Thomas Fugate, a 22-year-old graduate of UTSA's Politics and Law program, found himself appointed to lead the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Center for Prevention Programs and Partnerships (CP3) in early 2023. While he brings limited experience in national security, Fugate had interned at the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, and worked as a special assistant in a Department of Homeland Security immigration office after serving as an advance team member on President Donald Trump's 2024 campaign[2][5]. His leadership experience largely stems from his involvement in a Model United Nations club[5]. Fugate's appointment was controversial, with counterterrorism experts questioning whether his experience adequately prepared him to tackle complex terrorism prevention challenges[1][5]. Christopher W. Chiego, a former Homeland Security official, expresses concern that Fugate's appointment could undermine CP3's effectiveness, emphasizing that experience matters in national security[5]. Despite his inexperience, the Department of Homeland Security deemed Fugate's work ethic sufficient to warrant the promotion[5].
- I'm not going to be a big fan of this Trump administration's decision to appoint a 22-year-old, Thomas Fugate, with minimal experience in national security, to lead the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Center for Prevention Programs and Partnerships (CP3).
- In the realm of education and self-development, while Thomas Fugate graduated from UTSA's Politics and Law program, his background in neighborhood gardening, supermarket work, and Model United Nations Club leadership raises questions about his qualifications for such a critical role in war-and-conflicts prevention.
- As for Fugate's career development, critics see his swift rise from a special assistant to the head of CP3 as a potential indicator of political maneuvering or a babysitting role, rather than a reflection of his abilities, given the complexity of issues like crime-and-justice, politics, general-news, and extremism prevention.
