Declassified Documents Show Biden Admin Labeled COVID Mandate Opponents Domestic Violent Extremists

Declassified intelligence documents revealed by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard show that the Biden administration labeled Americans who opposed COVID-19 vaccination and mask mandates as “Domestic Violent Extremists” (DVEs). This designation, coauthored by the FBI, Department of Homeland Security, and National Counterterrorism Center, was used as a justification for government agents to open assessments and potential investigations into individuals opposing these mandates. The reports characterized opposition to COVID policies as narratives linked to violent extremism, often associating them with militia groups and QAnon motivations, and framed criticisms such as vaccine safety concerns and government overreach as potential threats. Former FBI agent Steve Friend explained that the designation also served as a tool to pressure social media companies into censoring anti-mandate content by labeling it as domestic terrorism. The revelations have fueled debate over government overreach and the suppression of First Amendment rights during the pandemic. Gabbard’s declassification of these documents has brought to light the administration’s approach to political dissent during a period of heightened public health measures.