In Wake of Political Assassinations in Minnesota and Antisemitic Violence in Colorado and D.C., Ranking Member Raskin Demands Answers on Gutting of Counterterrorism Infrastructure

Washington, D.C. (June 18, 2025)—Today, Rep. Jamie Raskin, Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, sent a letter demanding U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Attorney General Pam Bondi, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Kash Patel, and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem provide a briefing on their reckless decimation of national security, counterterrorism, and hate crime prevention programs, offices, task forces, and professionals, in the wake of shocking attacks on lawmakers in Minnesota and Jewish Americans across the country. 

“[R]eports indicate that, at the instruction of President Trump and his senior advisors, you have torn down the longstanding counterterrorism infrastructure that has kept this country safe from domestic terrorism. […] Our country has correspondingly experienced a rise in high-profile acts of domestic terrorism, including the shocking assassination spree in Minnesota this past weekend and a string of horrific antisemitic attacks directed against Jewish people and communities. I write today to request that each of your agencies provide a briefing as soon as possible so that Congress can understand—and work to remedy—full complete scope of your dangerous attack on the programs, offices, task forces, and professionals who have worked conscientiously to keep us safe from terrorists and violent extremists,” wrote Ranking Member Raskin.

Last weekend, two Democratic Minnesota lawmakers and their families were targeted in a “politically motivated assassination.” State Rep. Melissa Hortman was killed, along with her husband. State Senator John Huffman and his wife were shot 17 times but miraculously survived. Law enforcement found a “kill list” in the gunman’s vehicle targeting dozens of Minnesota Democrats, including Governor Tim Walz, Representative Ilhan Omar, state Attorney General Keith Ellison, political leaders in neighboring states, and abortion providers and pro-choice activists.

This shooting is the latest in a spate of high-profile attacks since President Donald Trump took office, including an arson attempt targeting Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and his family in April, the murder of two Israeli embassy staffers who were gunned down outside a Jewish museum in Washington, D.C., in May, and an attack on a gathering for the return of Israeli hostages in Boulder, Colorado, that wounded 12 people in June.

Since taking office, the Trump Administration has gutted the federal government’s ability to monitor, prevent, and prosecute domestic extremism, antisemitism, and hate crimes. The DOJ, FBI, and DHS have fired domestic terrorism experts, cut offices that monitor and prevent terrorist attacks and hate crimes, and disbanded task forces focused on malign foreign influence. DHS also installed a 22-year-old former Trump campaign worker with no national security experience as a senior DHS official tasked with overseeing the government’s main hub for combating violent extremism. 

Meanwhile, under Attorney General Bondi and Director Patel, the DOJ and FBI have abruptly fired and demoted several senior leaders in counterterrorism and national security, including the senior DOJ attorney overseeing the DOJ’s Office of Intelligence and two FBI Executive Assistant Directors overseeing FBI’s divisions on National Security and Cybersecurity.

The FBI has decentralized its command structure, abandoning a system stood up after the September 11 terrorist attacks to facilitate intelligence sharing and coordination between field offices. The FBI has also cut staffing in its domestic terrorism unit and has stopped using a national database that tracks domestic terrorism and hate crimes.

Under Secretary Noem, DHS has gutted the Center for Prevention Programs and Partnerships, or CP3, which funds community groups and local law enforcement to prevent terrorism and targeted violence. CP3 has helped prevent more than 1,000 violent plots. The Trump Administration fired 75% of its staff.

“But even as your agencies demand more resources from Congress, including over half a billion dollars more for DHS for immigration enforcement and border security, you appear to be completely neglecting your basic responsibilities to diligently monitor and prevent hate crimes and planning for domestic terrorism. I am extremely concerned that this institutional neglect will lead to more horrific crimes and attacks like the one that unfolded in Minnesota this past weekend. I would like to request a meeting to discuss this matter, which is plainly of the highest importance and urgency,” concluded Ranking Member Raskin.

Click here to read the letter.