FBI Scales Back Domestic Terrorism Staffing, Tracking Tools

The FBI has significantly reduced staffing in its domestic terrorism office and eliminated a key tracking tool, actions that may weaken the agency's capacity to monitor threats from white supremacists and anti-government extremists. These changes, described as a deprioritization of domestic terrorism investigations under FBI Director Kash Patel, come despite ongoing concerns from U.S. officials about the risks posed by domestic violent extremists. Experts, including Jacob Ware from the Council on Foreign Relations, warn that this shift reflects a broader trend within the Trump administration to redirect law enforcement resources away from these critical investigations. The FBI maintains that it remains committed to combating various forms of terrorism and violent crime. However, insiders express skepticism about the implications of these budgetary and operational adjustments on national security. This restructuring raises questions about the potential political influence over the FBI's priorities in tackling domestic extremism.