The political realm is abuzz with chatter following the announcement that President Donald J. Trump has appointed 22-year-old Thomas Fugate, a recent college graduate, to temporarily lead the Center for Prevention Programs and Partnerships (CP3) at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The reaction from the Left? A collective gasp, perhaps compounded by a touch of disbelief.
New: One year out of college and with no apparent national security expertise, Thomas Fugate is the Department of Homeland Security official tasked with overseeing the government’s main hub for combating violent extremism. https://t.co/N4ewx5VDsK
— ProPublica (@propublica) June 4, 2025
According to anonymous “experts” cited by ProPublica, Fugate’s rapid ascent to this pivotal role raises eyebrows:
In just a year post-graduation, this 22-year-old, lacking any discernible expertise in national security, now finds himself at the helm of a department dedicated to countering terrorism, which includes overseeing an $18 million grant initiative aimed at empowering communities to fight violent extremism.
Fugate’s appointment follows his stint as a Trump campaign aide and an intern at the conservative Heritage Foundation. His new role at DHS encompasses leadership of CP3, which has spearheaded national efforts to prevent hate-driven violence, school shootings, and other targeted attacks.
This appointment comes amid significant changes within an office that has faced substantial alterations since Trump’s return to the White House, which shifted its primary focus toward immigration issues.
The news of Fugate’s role has circulated over the past weeks, igniting concern among counterterrorism experts and non-profit organizations that rely on CP3 for funding. Many resorted to LinkedIn for insights on Fugate, only to discover a profile that suggested he was more of a college student than a seasoned counterterrorism official. Notably, his employment history lacks any relevant threat prevention experience.
Typically, insiders reveal that a candidate with such limited experience would struggle to secure even an entry-level position, let alone a leadership position. Fugate’s primary claim to leadership experience appears to stem from his role as secretary general of a Model United Nations club.
“Perhaps he’s a prodigy, a modern-day Doogie Howser with all the qualifications to lead at just 21. But that seems unlikely,” remarked a counterterrorism expert familiar with CP3 operations. “It sounds like we’re letting the intern take the reins.”
The Daily Beast joined the fray, emphasizing that Fugate’s LinkedIn profile reveals an alarming lack of relevant experience in counterterrorism.
In fact, just five years ago, at the tender age of 17, he was self-employed as a “landscape business owner,” mowing lawns.
As recently as August 2023, Fugate was shelving products and ringing up customers at an H-E-B supermarket in Austin, Texas, while pursuing a degree in politics and law from the University of Texas at San Antonio, where he graduated magna cum laude.
His now-deleted LinkedIn profile described his role at H-E-B as a “Cross Functional Team Member,” where he allegedly engaged in various heroic activities across all store departments.
The outlet reported:
There’s little else in Fugate’s resume to indicate that he possesses the necessary skills to identify and prevent terrorist threats. Before his gardening days—while studying for his degree—Fugate worked at H-E-B as a ‘Cross Functional Team Member.’
His LinkedIn profile boasted that he would “perform various activities around every department of the store, fulfilling key duties contributing to store operations.”
Since graduating, Fugate has experienced a meteoric rise in the political arena, having served as an “advance team member” for Trump’s 2024 campaign, as noted on his LinkedIn page.
A declared Republican, he also interned at the Heritage Foundation, the think tank responsible for Project 2025, and for Texas Representatives Terry Wilson and Steve Allison.
Fugate reportedly began his tenure as a “special assistant” in an immigration office at DHS in February, as noted by ProPublica. He subsequently succeeded the previous director of CP3 after they resigned.
“Tom Fugate has performed admirably in his current role as a Confidential Assistant in our Immigration & Border Security sub-office,” stated a senior DHS official to the Daily Beast.
“Due to his success, he has been temporarily entrusted with additional leadership responsibilities in the Center for Prevention Programs and Partnerships office (CP3). This reflects his commendable work ethic and achievements in his position.”
