A team of numerous U.S. government officials, including intelligence personnel, has been assisting President Donald Trump in his pursuit of justice against individuals he perceives as adversaries, as per government records and an informed source. The Interagency Weaponization Working Group, operational since at least May, has brought together officials from various government entities such as the White House, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the CIA, and the Justice and Defense departments, among others, according to documents. Trump issued an executive order on his first day as president, directing the attorney general to collaborate with federal agencies to rectify past government misconduct related to the weaponization of law enforcement and intelligence agencies.
Attorney General Pam Bondi and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard announced internal groups within their departments to investigate and eliminate individuals who allegedly abused government authority against Trump. Following Reuters’ inquiry to the agencies, Fox News reported the group’s existence, with Gabbard stating she initiated the working group. Multiple U.S. officials confirmed the Interagency Weaponization Working Group’s existence to Reuters and clarified that its objective is to implement Trump’s executive order.
The group’s mission is to address what they term as ‘the Deep State,’ a label used by Trump and his supporters to denote opponents from prior administrations. Discussions within the group reportedly included former FBI director James Comey, Chief Medical Advisor Anthony Fauci, and former military officials who enforced COVID-19 vaccination mandates. Despite allegations, a senior ODNI official denied any targeted retribution against individuals. The group is focused on examining evidence of potential government weaponization for political purposes.
The involvement of various individuals in the group, including those opposed to COVID-19 vaccine mandates and supporters of Trump’s election fraud claims, has been identified through social media analysis. The Justice Department acknowledged Trump’s directive for a review of past administrations’ alleged weaponization but did not elaborate on the working group’s specific activities or authority to take action. The group is also reportedly examining retribution for the prosecution of January 6 rioters, among other issues. The Justice Department denied the existence of a separate group focusing on January 6 investigations.
The group’s activities and Trump’s direct involvement remain unclear. The group’s broad approach to targeting perceived foes suggests a systematic deployment of government power beyond prior reports. The use of ‘weaponization’ by Trump and allies refers to unfounded claims of misuse of federal power in various investigations. The group’s actions and impact are yet to be fully determined.