When there’s a credible threat of terrorism, who do you want leading the charge to protect the nation? A seasoned expert with decades of experience in counterterrorism? Or a 22-year-old recent college grad whose professional highlight reel involves bagging groceries and mowing lawns?
If you guessed the first option, congratulations, you’re a functional adult with a basic understanding of how jobs work. Unfortunately, if you’re Donald Trump, you just shrug and say, “He’s a big fan of mine.”
America, meet Thomas Fugate, the 22-year-old wunderkind—or perhaps “wonder-why-he’s-in-this-job-kind”—who, thanks to Trump, now heads the Center for Prevention Programs and Partnerships (CP3) at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Never mind the fact that this “center” handles one of the most sensitive tasks in government: preventing terrorism and hate-fueled violence. And never mind the fact that Fugate’s work experience just a few years ago involved “landscaping around the neighborhood. Oh, and he also worked part-time at H-E-B, a supermarket chain. But hey, he’s young, loves Trump, and probably owns a red MAGA hat
Fugate graduated from the University of Texas at San Antonio just last year with a degree in politics and law. Pretty standard stuff. But instead of going through the usual grind of entry-level jobs that most recent grads face, Fugate soared straight to the top. Why? Well, it seems his resume wasn’t built on expertise but on loyalty. He worked as an intern for the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank closely tied to Trump-era policies. He also did advance team work on Trump’s 2024 campaign. In other words, he was an errand boy for the MAGA machine.
Still, none of this explains why he was handed the keys to CP3. This isn’t a summer internship at a think tank; it’s a role that demands expertise in identifying and neutralizing threats before they turn into tragedies. Fugate’s predecessor, William Braniff, had over 20 years of national security experience, including service in the Army. Braniff resigned in protest over budget cuts to CP3—a division that’s already been criticized for being underfunded.
The U.S. recently launched military strikes on three Iranian nuclear sites, escalating tensions with Tehran. Iran, predictably, has issued threats of retaliation, and experts warn about the possibility of terrorism on American soil. It’s in this moment of heightened danger that Trump decided to put a 22-year-old in charge of terrorism prevention.
Published: Jun 22, 2025 12:14 pm