On April 8, 2025, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard announced the establishment of a task force to restore faith in the intelligence community. One of the first moves was the declassification of a Biden era document on domestic terrorism. What were their priorities? Curtail the creation of so-called “ghost guns,” encourage states to adopt extreme risk protective order policies, and compel states to ban so-called “assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.”
In Gabbard’s announcement, it was stated that her office was acting on a Trump executive order. The order is “aimed at rebuilding trust in the IC — starting with investigating weaponization, rooting out deep-seeded politicization, exposing unauthorized disclosures of classified intelligence, and declassifying information that serves a public interest.”
“We are already identifying wasteful spending in real time, streamlining outdated processes, reviewing documents for declassification, and leading ongoing efforts to root out abuses of power and politicization,” Gabbard said in a statement. “President Trump promised the American people maximum transparency and accountability.”
“Declassified Strategic Implementation Plan for Countering Domestic Terrorism from the Biden Administration” was the first document declassified and released. The declassification date stamped on the document is April 9, one day after Gabbard’s announcement.
The Biden era document is not dated, but states it’s said that it’s resultant of guidance issued by the intelligence agencies in March of 2021.
Four “pillars” were identified within the document:
- Pillar One: Understand and Share Domestic Terrorism-Related Information
- Pillar Two: Prevent Domestic Terrorism Recruitment and Mobilization to Violence
- Pillar Three: Disrupt and Deter Domestic Terrorism Activity
- Pillar Four: Confront Long-Term Contributors to Domestic Terrorism
It’s under the fourth pillar that the following is stated:
Intended Impact 4.1.1: Lethal means for perpetrating acts of domestic terrorism are reduced. Greater care is provided earlier to potentially dangerous individuals. Norms of non-violent political expression and rejection of racism and bigotry are strengthened. Americans have increasing faith in democracy and government. Increase intervention and care for those who pose a danger to themselves and others. Strengthen civics education that promotes democratic resiliency. Increase civic engagement to foster social cohesion.
“Increase intervention care,” “strengthen civics education,” “increase civic engagement to foster social cohesion,” are interesting intended impacts. What exactly would executing these goals entail?
One of the actions spells out a measure to help “confront long-term contributors to domestic terrorism.” It specifically states, “Rein in the proliferation of ‘ghost guns’; encourage state adoption of extreme risk protection orders; and drive other executive and legislative action. including banning assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.”
It appears that the executive branch under Biden was actively working to get states to infringe on the Second Amendment rights of citizens. By extension, a worthy question to ask would be if people who self-manufacture firearms or possess assault weapons and/or high-capacity magazines were considered domestic terrorists by the Biden administration?
“Explore options to engage with states on using laws that already exist in all fifty states prohibiting certain private paramilitary activity and other activities that could assist in countering DT,” was another action stated that could have had far-reaching and broad implications. Again, a move to compel the states to infringe on constitutionally protected activities.
The second to last action should also raise questions on what were the motives. Moreover, what’s the acceptable narrative that policy makers would see introduced?
Action 4.1.ld: Encourage the teaching and learning of civics education that provides students with the skills to fully participate in civic life, including by leveraging existing funding sources and promoting promising practices for “action civics”; support evidence-based research on information literacy education for both children and adult learners and existing proven interventions to foster resiliency to Disinformation.
This is a good time to ask yourself if your civics education needs adjustment.
Seeing documents like this declassified by the Trump administration gives the American people a small peek into how the former administration viewed the people. They painted the picture that folks who manufacture their own firearms are akin to terrorists. Further, would ownership of modern sporting rifles and or what we know to be standard capacity magazines, also be linked to domestic terrorism? Would training be considered paramilitary activity?
Reading the document in its entirety is recommended. There’s a lot to unpack within it.
If the release of this document is only the first of many more steps to come that Gabbard’s office takes to restore faith in the government, Trump would be making good on his promise of having a transparent government. What can be pulled from here is that the apparent contempt the former administration had for the Second Amendment–and free thought/association–is presented in black and white. How much more of these kinds of initiatives will Trump be able to untangle?
Author’s Note: As this article was being ported for publication, I caught a great analysis video by author and attorney Mark Smith, over on his channel Four Boxes Diner. That video can be checked out HERE.
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