The Department of Homeland Security just handed the keys to its terrorism prevention unit to a 22-year-old. His name is Thomas Fugate. His resume includes lawn care and grocery shifts. Now he’s running the Center for Prevention Programs and Partnerships. That’s the office tasked with stopping domestic terror plots and managing federal prevention grants. This isn’t a side desk. This is the front line.
Fugate’s appointment came in May. He replaced William Braniff, a career Army officer with two decades in national security. Braniff resigned after CP3’s budget was gutted. Fugate stepped in. No prior counterterrorism experience. No federal law enforcement background. His LinkedIn, now deleted, listed “landscape business owner” and “cross-functional team member” at H-E-B. That’s a Texas grocery chain.
As our nation girds for possible Iranian terrorist attacks, this is the person Trump put in charge of terrorism prevention.
22 years old. Recent work experience: landscaping/grocery clerk.
Never worked a day in counter-terrorism. But he’s a BIG Trump fan. So he got the job. pic.twitter.com/FIlMWFoudZ
— Chris Murphy 🟧 (@ChrisMurphyCT) June 22, 2025
He graduated from the University of Texas at San Antonio. He interned at the Heritage Foundation. He worked briefly in a DHS immigration office. He volunteered on Trump’s 2024 campaign. That’s the full arc. From lawn crew to federal counterterrorism lead in under two years.
The timing is not subtle. Iran has threatened retaliation after U.S. strikes on its nuclear sites. American cities are on alert. Intelligence chatter is rising. And the person overseeing domestic terror prevention is younger than most of the agents he’s supposed to coordinate.
The job isn’t ceremonial. CP3 manages millions in federal grants. It partners with local law enforcement. It flags radicalization threats. It builds the early-warning systems that stop lone actors before they act. Fugate now signs off on those programs. He now sets the tone for how DHS handles domestic extremism.
The appointment was not confirmed by the Senate. It didn’t go through a public hearing. It was a direct hire. The administration says Fugate is “aligned with the president’s vision.” That’s the only qualification listed.
The job requires judgment, discretion, and operational awareness. It requires experience in threat assessment and interagency coordination. Fugate has none of that. But he has loyalty. And in this White House, that’s enough.
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