The Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) advisory board, known as the “Homeland Intelligence Experts Group,” has reportedly categorized Trump supporters, members of the U.S. military, and individuals with religious faith as potential domestic terrorist threats. Internal documents obtained by America First Legal (AFL), a conservative legal organization, revealed these classifications of American citizens within the federal agency.

Established in 2023, the advisory board aims to provide the DHS with insights into terrorism threats and fentanyl trafficking. It includes a panel of experts such as former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, former CIA Director John Brennan, and former CIA Operations Officer Paul Kolbe.

The documents obtained by America First Legal (AFL) suggest that the advisory board within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) characterized “supporters of the former president” as comprising the majority of the domestic terrorism threat in the United States. Additionally, the documents indicated that traits such as military service and religious affiliation were considered as indicators of extremism and terrorism by the board.

Following a lawsuit filed by AFL and former Acting Director of National Intelligence Richard Grenell, the DHS advisory board, known as the “Homeland Intelligence Experts Group,” was disbanded. The legal action argued that the panel of experts violated the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), which governs the operations of advisory committees providing advice or recommendations to federal agencies.

The shutdown of the advisory board underscores the controversy and legal challenges surrounding its activities and the perceptions of domestic terrorism threats within the DHS.

Gene Hamilton, Executive Director, Executive Vice President, and General Counsel of America First Legal (AFL), expressed concerns about how the federal government views American citizens based on the revelations from the DHS advisory board. He suggested that categorizing certain groups such as supporters of the former president, military veterans, and individuals with religious beliefs as potential domestic terrorist threats could indicate the weaponization of federal agencies against political opponents.

Hamilton’s remarks highlight AFL’s stance that such categorizations and assessments by federal agencies could lead to targeting individuals based on their political affiliations or personal backgrounds, raising significant concerns about civil liberties and government overreach. The disbanding of the advisory board following legal challenges underscores ongoing debates and scrutiny over how national security concerns are balanced with individual rights and freedoms.

Gene Hamilton, speaking to the Daily Caller News Foundation, emphasized that the uncovered records from the DHS advisory board reveal the workings of what he described as an illegal partisan committee, which AFL successfully halted. Hamilton expressed alarm over the contents of these records, asserting that all Americans should be concerned about efforts to weaponize federal agencies against political opponents of the ruling regime.

In a related context, The American Tribune reported earlier this year on comments by Rep. Jim Jordan, who criticized the federal government for allegedly flagging private transactions that included references to “MAGA” (Make America Great Again) and religious purchases. According to reports, the U.S. Treasury’s financial crimes enforcement office had flagged customer transactions where phrases like “MAGA” and “Trump” were associated with the purchase of certain religious texts.

These reports underscore ongoing concerns and debates over government surveillance, civil liberties, and the potential targeting of individuals based on political affiliations or religious beliefs. Critics argue that such practices could infringe upon constitutional rights to privacy and freedom of expression.

Rep. Jim Jordan, who chairs the House Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government, addressed concerns regarding the U.S. Treasury’s financial crimes enforcement office in a letter to Noah Bishoff, the former director of the Treasury’s Strategic Operations Division of Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). Jordan’s letter referenced documents suggesting that the agency recommended using generic terms like ‘TRUMP’ and ‘MAGA’ to search through Zelle payment messages, as well as conducting prior analyses on indicators of lone actor/homegrown violent extremism.

According to Jordan’s letter, FinCEN’s analysis warned financial institutions about indicators of extremism that included transactions such as purchasing transportation tickets to areas without an apparent purpose and buying books or subscribing to media containing extremist views, including religious texts.

Jordan argued that FinCEN’s actions encouraged large financial institutions to scrutinize their customers’ private transactions for suspicious charges based on protected political and religious expressions. This raised significant concerns about potential government overreach into private financial activities and the infringement of constitutional rights related to political and religious freedom.

“We now know the federal government flagged terms like ‘MAGA’ and ‘TRUMP’ to financial institutions if Americans completed transactions using those terms,” Rep. Jim Jordan posted on social media. He highlighted that purchases of religious texts, such as a BIBLE, and shopping at places like Bass Pro Shop were also flagged by the government.

Jordan’s statement underscores ongoing concerns about governmental monitoring and potential overreach into private financial transactions based on political affiliations or religious activities. Critics argue that such practices could infringe on individuals’ rights to privacy and freedom of expression, raising broader questions about civil liberties in the digital age.