In December 2025, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi issued an internal Department of Justice memo directing federal law enforcement, including the FBI, to intensify investigations into domestic terrorism, with a particular focus on the antifa movement and similar “extremist groups.” The memo instructs the FBI to compile a list of groups or entities potentially engaged in acts that may constitute domestic terrorism, working alongside state and local partners. It emphasizes prioritizing cases involving violence or threats of violence to advance certain political agendas, explicitly citing examples such as opposition to law and immigration enforcement, extreme views favoring mass migration and open borders, adherence to radical gender ideology, as well as anti-Americanism, anti-capitalism, and anti-Christianity.

The directive builds on prior executive actions by President Trump aimed at addressing organized political violence, requiring the FBI to review existing intelligence files on antifa-related activities and submit reports on potential groups within tight deadlines. Bondi also called for enhancing the FBI’s public tip line to facilitate submissions from citizens, including media evidence of suspected acts, and for grant funding to prioritize state and local programs combating domestic terrorism. Supporters view this as a necessary step to counter left-wing extremism and protect public safety, aligning with efforts to disrupt networks similar to those targeted in organized crime prosecutions.

Critics, however, argue that the memo’s broad ideological descriptors risk chilling free speech and targeting legitimate dissent, potentially encompassing advocacy groups without evidence of violence. Leaked portions of the document have sparked debate over whether it shifts focus disproportionately to one side of the political spectrum, departing from previous non-partisan approaches to extremism tracking. As of early December 2025, the initiative remains in its early implementation phase, with ongoing discussions about its implications for civil liberties and law enforcement priorities.