Who is Thomas Fugate, the 22-year-old appointed to DHS’s counterterrorism hub?

By
David Zimmermann
June 23, 2025 11:54 am

President Donald Trump’s recent appointment of 22-year-old Thomas Fugate to the Department of Homeland Security’s counterterrorism division is sparking backlash. … The White House appointed Fugate to DHS’s Center for Prevention Programs and Partnerships, which is responsible for preventing domestic terrorism and targeted violence.

The news comes as Iran considers retaliating against the United States after three of Tehran’s nuclear sites were destroyed over the weekend in a bombing operation that Trump called “very successful.” … Detractors of the Trump administration are pointing to Fugate’s lack of experience in national security, arguing that he is unqualified for the job.

Fugate previously interned at the Heritage Foundation before working for the Trump campaign and joining DHS as a “special assistant” in an immigration office, ProPublica reported earlier this month. He succeeded CP3 Director Bill Braniff, who resigned in March after the Trump administration began cutting his staff at the counterterrorism hub. … Unlike Fugate, Braniff held more than two decades of national security experience. The 22-year-old assumed the position last month.

Fugate did some gardening in his neighborhood and worked at a supermarket, according to his LinkedIn page. He also served as secretary general of a Model United Nations club and graduated from the University of Texas at San Antonio last year.

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