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“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,” one counterterrorism researcher fumed to ProPublica. “It sounds like putting the intern in charge.”
Fugate graduated magna cum laude from the University of Texas at San Antonio with a degree in politics and law. While enrolled, he also interned at the Heritage Foundation—one of the most influential conservative think tanks in the country—as well as for Texas lawmakers like State Representatives Terry Wilson and Steve Allison.
The Daily Beast, never one to miss a hit job, breathlessly pointed out that Fugate’s LinkedIn profile, which has since been removed, included almost no direct experience in counterterrorism. The outlet wrote that as recently as August 2023, he was working as a “Cross Functional Team Member” at H-E-B, performing duties across every department of the store.
“There isn’t much else on his resumé to suggest Fugate has the requisite skills to weed out terrorists,” the publication scoffed.
And yet, the Trump administration clearly sees something different.
A senior official at the Department of Homeland Security pushed back on the criticisms, stating: “Tom Fugate has performed well in his current role as a Confidential Assistant in our Immigration & Border Security suboffice. Due to his success, he has been temporarily given additional leadership responsibilities in the Center for Prevention Programs and Partnerships office (CP3). This is a credit to his work ethic and success on the job.”
Critics say Fugate’s appointment is just the latest move by President Trump to reshape DHS, steering its mission away from left-wing ideological crusades and back toward core national priorities—immigration enforcement chief among them.
Those familiar with CP3’s previous leadership were stunned by the shake-up. One source told ProPublica that even junior roles in CP3 usually require years of specialized experience and that Fugate would never have landed an interview under normal circumstances. “People turned to LinkedIn,” the outlet reported, “and were stunned to see a photo of ‘a college kid’ with a flag pin on his lapel posing with a sharply arched eyebrow.”
But insiders say the Left’s outrage isn’t truly about qualifications. It’s about control.
With Trump back in office, elite circles that once ran these agencies unchecked are watching their grip slip away. Bureaucratic strongholds like CP3 are being restructured, their leadership handed to those outside the Beltway club—and nothing infuriates the establishment more than a young outsider who doesn’t play by their rules.
Fugate’s supporters argue that his quick rise is exactly what’s needed: new blood, a sharp mind, and the willingness to act decisively without kowtowing to the usual Washington games. His track record as an “advance team member” on Trump’s 2024 campaign, paired with his academic performance, clearly impressed those in charge.
Whether Fugate stays in the role permanently or not, his appointment signals something much larger: President Trump is reshaping the federal government—and no amount of wailing from career bureaucrats or activist journalists is going to stop it.
