CBCFEXECUTIVEORDERTRACKER
DateIssued:September25,2025
Topic:CriminalJustice,LawEnforcement
WHATDOESTHISMEMORANDUMDO?
ThismemorandumexpandsonPresidentTrump’sexecutiveordersthat declareAntifaasadomesticterroristorganizationandcreateastanding NationalGuardunittoquellcivilunrestinUScities.
ThememoinstructstheNationalJointTerrorismTaskForceanditslocal offices(JTTFs)tocoordinateandoverseeacomprehensivenational strategyforentitiesandindividualsthatsuppresslawfulpoliticalactivity, obstructtheruleoflaw,encouragedomesticterrorism,oraidandabet thoseefforts.ThememodirectstheJTTFstoinvestigate,prosecute,and disrupttheperpetratorstothefullestextentofthelaw.
Thememoalsoassertsthatdomesticterrorismisanationalpriorityarea oftheDepartmentofJustice(DOJ)andtheDepartmentofHomeland SecurityandrequirestheirCabinetSecretariestodevelopgrantprograms thatallocatefundingforlawenforcementpartnerstodetect,prevent,and protectagainstthreats.
HOWWILLTHISMEMORANDUMBEENFORCED?
ThismemorandumisprimarilyenforcedbytheJTTFs,incoordinationwith federaldepartmentsandagencies.
ThememoauthorizestheJTTFstoinvestigatepotentialFederalcrimesrelated toactsofrecruitingorradicalizingpersonsforthepurposesofpolitical violence,terrorism,orthe“violentdeprivationofanycitizen’srights.”The memoinstructstheAttorneyGeneral(AG)andDOJtoprosecutethosecrimes tothefullestextentofthelaw.
ThememoalsodirectstheAGtoprioritizepoliticallymotivatedactslike organizeddoxingcampaigns,swatting,rioting,looting,trespassing,assault, destructionofproperty,threatsofviolence,andcivildisorder,inthe prosecutionandenforcementofdomesticterrorismlaws.
ThememodirectstheJTTFstoprovideregularprogressupdatestothe PresidentthroughtheAssistanttothePresidentandHomelandSecurity Advisor.
ThememoinstructstheSecretaryoftheTreasurytofindfinancialcapacityfor federalofficialstoidentifyanddisruptfinancialnetworksthatfunddomestic terrorismandpoliticalviolence,andtorefertheperpetratorstolaw enforcement.
ThememoauthorizestheCommissioneroftheInternalRevenueService(IRS) toensurethattax-exemptentitiesarenotdirectlyorindirectlyfinancing politicalviolenceordomesticterrorism.
ThememoencouragestheAGtorecommendentitiestothePresidentthat meetthedefinitionofdomesticterrorism.
Thememodirectsfederallawenforcementagencieswithinvestigative authoritytoprioritizethefollowingcrimes: AssaultingFederalofficersoremployees Solicitationtocommitacrimeofviolence Moneylaundering Fundingofterroristactsorotherwisefacilitatingterrorism Arsonoffenses,and MajorfraudagainsttheUnitedStates.
HOWDOESTHISIMPACTBLACKCOMMUNITIES?
PresidentTrumphasdeployedfederallawenforcementunitsinBlack-led andpredominantlyBlackcities,likeChicago,Memphis,andWashington, D.C.,whichputsBlackcommunitiesatriskofexcessiveforce.A2020study foundthatexpandingpoliceforcesincitieswiththelargestBlack populationsdisproportionatelyincreasedlow-levelarrestswithout equivalentpublicsafetybenefits.From2018-2020,BlackAmericanswere morethantwiceaslikelyaswhiteAmericanstoexperienceathreator nonfataluseofforceduringpoliceinteractions.
InSeptember,federalagentstookoveraChicagoapartmentbuilding rumoredtocontainundocumentedimmigrants.There,theydetained,and zip-tieddozensofU.S.citizens.ThisorderoutlinestheTrump administration'sintenttoexpandeffortsliketheseacrossthecountryand topunishorganizationsthatopposeitspolicyagenda.
Thisordercontinuesthefederalgovernment’shistoricalpatternof framingBlackpoliticaldissidentsasterroristsand/orthreatstonational security.InthewakeoftheColdWar,theFederalBureauofInvestigation (FBI)launchedasurveillancecampaigncalledCOINTELPROtoaddress communismintheUnitedStates.Itexpandedtheinitiativeinthe1960sto includeinvestigationsintoanti-warorganizationsandcivilrights advocatesliketheBlackPantherParty,theNAACP,andMartinLutherKing Jr.TheFBI’sexpressedobjectivewasto“expose,disrupt,misdirect,and discredit”groupsandindividualsdeemed“BlackNationalHateGroups” and“BlackExtremists,”respectively.TheFBIfabricatedpromotional materials,forgeddocuments,spreadfalserumors,andwasevenlinkedto politicalviolenceandthedeathofBlackactivistsalltocurbtheprogress ofthecivilrightsmovementintheUnitedStates.
DuringtheheightoftheBlackLivesMattermovementin2020,theFBI issuedawarningaboutthedangerof“BlackIdentity”groups,including theMovementforBlackLives.Thisexecutiveordercontinuesthepatternof federalagenciestargetingBlackactivistsfortheirpoliticalviews.
HOWDOESTHISIMPACTBLACKCOMMUNITIES?
Inanexecutiveordersigneddaysbeforethismemo,PresidentTrump declaredtheanti-fascistmovementasdomesticterrorism.Because Antifaisnotacohesiveorganizationwithclearleadership,thisorder permitstheTrumpAdministrationtodefinewhoisamember.Asaresult, theWhiteHousemaytargetBlackpeopleprotestingracialinjusticeina nonviolentmannerasAntifaandsubjectthemtolegalpenalties.
Inthismemo,PresidentTrumpinstructsfederalagenciestoprosecute entitiesthatfundorassistprotestorsandpoliticaldissidents,including nonprofitsandreligiousorganizations.Theorganizationscouldbe investigatedforprovidingmaterialsupporttoadomesticterrorist organization,butthedefinitionofmaterialsupportisbroad,andcould includeincludingsmallpurchaseslikebottledwater.Thisambiguity, combinedwiththeTrumpAdministration’sabilitytodefineAntifaandits membership,givestheDOJunprecedentedauthoritytobringfederal chargesagainstthePresident’spoliticalopponents.Sincethememowas published,PresidentTrumphasstatedthatheisconsideringdeclaring Antifaaforeignterroristorganization,whichwouldhavesignificantlymore severelegalramificationsfortheimplicatedparties.WhilethePresident hasexpressedhiswishes,theStateDepartmentistheonlyagencythat canformallydesignateforeignterroristorganizations.
ThememowillhaveconsequencesforallAmericansbutwill disproportionatelyimpactBlackcommunities.Over80%ofBlack AmericansdisapproveofPresidentTrump’sperformance.Thisfalse characterizationofAntifacouldleaveBlackprotestorsvulnerableto attacksfrompeoplewhoviewthemasathreattothenation,potentially leadingtoincreasedpoliticalviolence.
WhilecounteringclaimsthatAntifaisaterroristorganization,membersof theCongressionalBlackCaucus(CBC)recognizethatthisordercould fomentpoliticalviolence,whichtheyhavecondemnedoutright.Rep. YvetteD.Clarke,ChairoftheCongressionalBlackCaucus,releasedthe followingstatementaftertheassassinationofCharlieKirk.
“Wemustunequivocallyrejectviolenceinallitsforms.Toomanytimes inournation'shistory,politicaldifferenceshaveturnedtoviolence–violencethatourcommunity,inparticular,knowstoowellfromthe assassinationsofBlackleaderslikeDr.MartinLutherKing,Jr.,Medger Evers,andFredHampton,amongothers.Atthesametime,wemust condemnviolencewithoutabandoningourrighttospeakoutagainst ideasthatareinconsistentwithourvaluesasAmericans.”Full Statement
CongressmanTroyA.Carter,Sr.,1stViceChairoftheCBC,releasedthe followingstatementinresponsetoPresidentTrump’sfederaltakeoverof DC:
"ThePresident'sattempttoseizecontrolofWashington,D.C.'spolice force—andhissuggestionthathemaydothesameincitieslikeNew York,LosAngeles,orChicago—isanalarminganddangerous overreachbytheExecutiveBranch.[...]Thissetsadangerous precedent.Allowingthefederalgovernmenttooverridelocal governanceerodestheveryfoundationofourdemocracy.Itopensthe doorforpoliticallymotivatedtakeoversbasedonpartisantargeting ratherthanpublicsafety.”FullStatement