A new federal strategy to dismantle networks of organized political violence

Countries & Cities · Published 12 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In September 2025, a new presidential memorandum was issued to target the structures behind domestic terrorism. It moves beyond investigating individual crimes to focus on the funding, networks, and organizations that the administration claims are orchestrating sophisticated campaigns of intimidation.

Issued by President Donald Trump on September 25, 2025, National Security Presidential Memorandum-7 (NSPM-7) establishes a national strategy to disrupt what the administration describes as organized campaigns of political violence. The memorandum asserts that recent acts of violence—including the 2024 assassination of healthcare executive Brian Thompson, the 2022 assassination attempt against Justice Brett Kavanaugh, and the September 10 assassination of activist Charlie Kirk—are not isolated incidents but part of a coordinated effort to silence opposing speech.

The directive specifically targets the 'anti-fascist' movement, which the administration alleges uses tactics like doxing and radicalization to obstruct the federal government. The memorandum claims that since January 21, 2025, attacks on ICE officers have increased by more than 1,000 percent compared to the previous year. To counter this, the National Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTFs) is directed to investigate not only the primary actors but also the institutional funders, officers, and employees of organizations that aid or abet these activities.

The policy has faced significant criticism. The Brennan Center noted that much of the memorandum appears to target speech and nonviolent actions protected by the First Amendment. Furthermore, legal experts point out that US law lacks a mechanism to designate domestic organizations as terrorist entities without a connection to a foreign terrorist organization. This tension highlights a profound debate over the boundaries of law enforcement intervention in political movements and the definition of domestic extremism.

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