Kristi Noem, the Governor of South Dakota and a known Trump ally, gave 22-year-old Thomas Fugate a major responsibility in June. She put him in a leadership role at the Center for Prevention Programs and Partnerships (CP3), a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) program focused on fighting domestic terrorism. The department was quick to praise Fugate’s “leadership” and work ethic. But soon after, reports came out that questioned his background.
On June 6, The Daily Beast reported that Fugate had no real experience in terrorism prevention. He had graduated from college only a year earlier and previously worked as a gardener and a grocery store clerk. This caused major embarrassment for the department, led by the controversial Noem. DHS quickly tried to lower the attention by saying his leadership role was only temporary and based on his ‘success on the job.”
