A leading Democrat in the U.S. Senate urged the FBI on Tuesday to clarify its decision to reassign personnel from domestic terrorism investigations, alleging that the administration of Republican President Donald Trump is jeopardizing efforts to address violent extremism in the country.
According to a report by Reuters last month, the FBI shifted approximately 16 agents and intelligence analysts from its Domestic Terrorism Operations Section, which aids investigations conducted by the FBI’s 55 field offices and provides insights into domestic threats.
In a letter addressed to FBI Director Kash Patel and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Senator Dick Durbin, the senior Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, inquired about the current staffing levels in the section and how the agency is handling investigations that were previously under its purview.
“I strongly urge you to prioritize the safety of the American public, reverse these resource reallocations, and reaffirm the Administration’s commitment to addressing domestic violent extremism with the seriousness and focus this critical issue requires,” wrote Durbin, who represents Illinois.
This reassignment has sparked concerns that investigations into violence driven by white supremacist and anti-government ideologies may receive less attention under Patel, who has been critical of the FBI’s previous efforts in combating domestic terrorism.
An FBI spokesperson did not provide an immediate response to a request for comment. Last month, Patel informed the House Intelligence Committee that FBI counterterrorism personnel “move all the time” and emphasized his focus on reprioritizing the agency to address violent crime and national security threats.
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Recently, federal authorities announced that they would classify arson attacks targeting Tesla as acts of domestic terrorism. Tesla CEO Elon Musk has been a proponent of Trump’s federal government reforms.
Durbin also sought clarification regarding recent actions by the Department of Homeland Security, which media reports indicate have included the cessation of funding for a national database on domestic terrorism and hate crimes.
