Trump loyalist's astonishing rise at age 22: From grocery store worker to anti-terrorism chief
Longtime counterterrorism officials have been irked by the appointment of a 22-year-old Trump loyalist to a position overseeing a critical Department of Homeland Security function.
Thomas Fugate, 22, a former gardener and grocery store worker who graduated college last year, is reportedly overseeing one of the main U.S. counterterrorism hubs.
The University of Texas at San Antonio graduate landed a position on Donald Trump 's campaign in 2024. He was subsequently hired by DHS in February, according to his LinkedIn page.
Serving now as a special assistant at DHS, Fugate is reportedly running DHS' Center for Prevention Programs Partnerships, commonly referred to as CP3.
It is DHS's main platform to fight terrorism within the U.S. CP3 also boasts an $18 million grant program, which Fugate will have responsibility over. The Trump administration fiercely defended the move, praising in particular Fugate's work ethic.
'It sounds like putting the intern in charge,' one counterterrorism researcher with years of experience at CP3 told ProPublica, who first reported Fugate's growing influence.
'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,' the source added.
Fugate's LinkedIn profile, which may not be exhaustive, does not show experience in counterterrorism or any related security-related fields.
However, he does have an impressive internship history, having worked for the conservative Heritage Foundation and in the House of Representatives.
Also listed on the Fugate's professional page are stints running a gardening and landscaping business as well as experience working as a grocery store associate.
'We're entering very dangerous territory,' a DHS official claimed to ProPublica.
Another likened meetings with the 22-year-old to 'career counseling' sessions for the Trump appointee.
The White House pushed back on the ProPublica report, saying that CP3 is not responsible for all counterterrorism functions.
'Combatting terrorism is a government-wide effort under the Trump Administration,' White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson told the Daily Mail in a statement.
'The notion that this single office is responsible for preventing terrorism is not only incorrect, it's ignorant.'
CP3 is the same office that stood up the Disinformation Governance Board during the Biden administration, one Trump official told Daily Mail, making it a target for the new administration.
According to the report, staffers say CP3 is down to about 20 employees from a maximum of 80.
The federal worker's official portrait shows Fugate in a suit in front of a U.S. and DHS flag.
'Tom Fugate has performed well in his current role as a Confidential Assistant in our Immigration & Border Security suboffice,' a DHS official told the Daily Mail.
'This is a credit to his work ethic and success on the job.'
'Due to his success, he has been temporarily given additional leadership responsibilities in the Center for Prevention Programs and Partnerships office (CP3).'
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