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FIRST ON FOX: Thomas Fugate, a 22-year-old Trump appointee, spoke with Fox News Digital after being cast into the spotlight and criticized over his young age, inexperience and role in President Donald Trump’s administration.
Fugate’s official title at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is Special Assistant. However, several outlets reported that Fugate was the head of DHS’s Center for Prevention Programs and Partnerships (CP3). CP3 is DHS’ lead office for terrorism and targeted violence prevention.
The young appointee and DHS denied those claims to Fox News Digital.
“All decisions came down from policy leadership, [the] undersecretary, deputy secretary, and chief of staff,” Fugate emphasized.
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Thomas Fugate, 22, is a Special Assistant with the Department of Homeland Security. (Department of Homeland Security)
Fugate went on to say that CP3, a program which was gutted by an $18.5 million cut last week, has a heavily reduced role compared to previous administrations as Trump’s DHS has downsized the division.
“Before I got there, [CP3] was already flagged for waste, fraud, and abuse,” Fugate explained. “We’re not talking about a massive office of 80 people with a wide range of functions. We’re talking about a very niche and small, specialized office.”
Fugate said the office is mainly focused on administering a grant program.
“It’s only when you take it out of context and blow it out of proportion that it then becomes a massive problem where people think I’m practically running the FBI,” Fugate continued.
DHS also told Fox News Digital that Fugate was never in a position of leadership within the program, and even referred to him as a “low-level” staffer.
Several media outlets fretted over President Trump’s appointment of 22-year-old Thomas Fugate to a position with Homeland Security. (Getty Images)
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