Thomas Fugatea, a 22-year-old college graduate, with no previous government leadership or security experience, is now heading the Centre for Prevention Programs and Partnerships, commonly referred to as CP3, at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in the US. Fugate, a former gardener and grocery store worker who graduated from college last year, was hired by DHS in February, The Daily Mail reported, citing his LinkedIn profile.
He replaced veteran Bill Braniff, who had more than 20 years of experience in national security. While the Trump administration defends the move, critics call it “reckless”.
It is DHS’s main platform to fight terrorism within the US. CP3 also boasts an $18 million grant program, which Fugate will have responsibility for. The Trump administration fiercely defended the move, praising in particular Fugate’s work ethic, according to a report in the Daily Mail.
Fugate’s LinkedIn profile, which lacks all the details on him, does not list any background in counterterrorism or related security fields.
FUGATE’S S BACKGROUND INCLUDES WORK IN LANDSCAPING AND RETAIL
Despite no relevant experience for the job, Fugate does have an impressive internship history, having worked for the conservative Heritage Foundation and in the House of Representatives, The Daily Mail reported.
Fugate’s professional page also mentions time spent running a gardening and landscaping business, along with experience as a grocery store worker.
The news about his appointment caused concerns among counterterrorism experts and nonprofit groups supported by CP3.
Several said they turned to LinkedIn for intel on Fugate — an unknown in their field — and were stunned to see a photo of “a college kid” with a flag pin on his lapel posing with a sharply arched eyebrow,” ProPublica, a New York-based news portal, reported.
“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,” ProPublica quoted one counterterrorism researcher who has worked with CP3 officials for years as saying. “It sounds like putting the intern in charge,” the researcher added.
Over the past seven weeks, the US has seen at least five major targeted attacks, including a car bombing in California and the shooting of two Israeli Embassy staff members in Washington.
Against this backdrop, current and former national security officials say the Trump administration’s decision to shift counterterrorism resources to immigration and leave the violence-prevention portfolio to inexperienced appointees is “reckless,” according to ProPublica. “We’re entering very dangerous territory,” one long-time US counterterrorism official said.
WHITE HOUSE SLAMS PROPUBLICA REPORT
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,” Jackson added.
Fugate replaced army veteran Bill Braniff, who stepped down in March following a 20% staff cut by the Trump administration. He had over 20 years’ experience in national security. “If I cannot advance the prevention mission from inside the government for now, I will do what I can outside of government,” he wrote in a LinkedIn post announcing his resignation, according to a report in The Independent.
“CP3 is the inheritor of the primary and founding mission of DHS, to prevent terrorism,” he added.
Before taking up the new leadership responsibilities, Fugate was hired as a “special assistant” in an immigration office at the DHS, The Independent reported.
He was involved in the Trump campaign last year and attended the Republican National Convention. He also held the role of secretary general in a Model United Nations club.
A senior DHS official, in a statement, told ProPublica that Fugate’s CP3 duties were added to his role as an aide in an Immigration & Border Security office.
“Due to his success, he has been temporarily given additional leadership responsibilities in the Centre for Prevention Programs and Partnerships office,” the official told the outlet. “This is a credit to his work ethic and success on the job,” he added.
