Accountability Desk

The record, with the receipts.

A 22-year-old put in charge of the government's terrorism-prevention office

ProPublica profiled the recent graduate chosen to lead the DHS office that works to prevent terrorism and targeted violence.

June 2025  |  Summary by Accountability Desk, based on the reporting credited below

ProPublica profiled Thomas Fugate, 22, who was named to lead the Department of Homeland Security's Center for Prevention Programs and Partnerships, the office that works with communities to prevent terrorism and targeted violence, and examined whether he had the experience the job calls for. Read the full report for his background and the department's explanation.

The receipts

Original reporting. Credit belongs to these outlets and authors; read the full stories at the source.

  1. ProPublica byline on original

    “The intern in charge”: meet the 22-year-old Trump's team picked to lead terrorism prevention
  2. MSN (as shared in our notes) byline on original

    Trump appoints 22-year-old to run DHS terrorism unit