Scoop: Dem probes Trump's 22-year-old terror prevention official
Why it matters: Rep. Haley Stevens (D-Mich.) argued in a letter to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem that Fugate's role raises "troubling questions about whether DHS is taking the prevention of domestic terrorism seriously."
She wrote that his hiring, along with reported layoffs at his office, come "at a time when threats to public officials and democratic institutions are demonstrably increasing," pointing to the shooting of two Minnesota state legislators and their spouses.
A DHS spokesperson pushed back by arguing the department has "a robust counterterrorism program" and that the task force "played an insignificant and ineffective role in broader efforts."
State of play: ProPublica reported last month that Fugate, a former Trump campaign worker and Heritage Foundation intern who graduated college last May, was tapped to lead the Center for Prevention Programs and Partnerships.
The office, commonly referred to as CP3, is charged with distributing grants to help prevent targeted violence towards local communities, including hospitals, schools and religious institutions.
According to the ProPublica report, the office's staff has been reduced from 80 employees to fewer than 20.
Driving the news: In her letter, a copy of which was first obtained by Axios, Stevens asked Noem for an accounting of CP3's funding and staffing levels.
She also asked about the "selection process" for Fugate, as well as DHS's broader plans to combat politically motivated violence.
"I urge you to take immediate steps to restore CP3's mission and ensure qualified leadership is in place to carry it out effectively," Stevens wrote.
The other side: " Unfortunately, under the Biden administration, CP3 was weaponized against political opponents and its main purpose was to funnel money to progressive groups," the DHS spokesperson said.
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