Key Takeaways:

• A new domestic terror directive orders federal and local agencies to investigate U.S. citizens.
• The FBI, DOJ, and 200+ joint terrorism task forces can review five years of online and offline activity.
• Indicators include anti-capitalism, support for queer rights, non-Christian faiths, and climate activism.
• ICE is buying fake cell towers, drones, facial recognition, and phone-hacking tools.
• The plan sidesteps warrants and threatens First and Fourth Amendment rights.
• You can call Congress, back privacy laws, use encryption, and raise public awareness.

In December, Americans received a chilling order. The domestic terror directive tasks federal and local police teams to hunt for critics of the government. It stems from Trump’s National Security Presidential Memorandum-7 issued in September. Ken Klippenstein first reported its broad outline, yet major outlets quickly moved on. Now, Attorney General Pam Bondi’s memo proves this plan is real. Agents can dig into your past five years of social media posts, protest records, church attendance, and other activities. This level of surveillance is unprecedented in U.S. history.

What Is the Domestic Terror Directive?

The domestic terror directive is not just an idea. It is a formal order signed by the president. It tells the FBI, the Department of Justice, and more than 200 joint terrorism task forces to seek out “domestic extremists.” According to Bondi’s memo, these extremists might hold certain opinions or join certain events. Ken Klippenstein obtained the memo listing roughly two dozen “indicators.” These include anti-American, anti-capitalist, or anti-Christian views. They also cover support for single-parent families, same-sex marriage, climate activism, or non-Christian religions. In effect, citizens who speak freely may end up under federal scrutiny.

How Does It Work?

First, the domestic terror directive activates local FBI field offices and police task forces. Each team pairs federal agents with city or county officers. Next, agents use the memo’s indicators to scan social media posts, protest permits, community meeting logs, and even church bulletins. Suppose you posted a sign that reads “Down with capitalism” or cheered for climate protests. If that matches an indicator, agents can open an investigation. They may then interview your friends, check your phone records, or ask for private messages. No clear evidence of a crime is needed—just a hint you fit one of the listed categories.

Broad Targets and Risky Indicators

The range of targets under this domestic terror directive is shockingly wide. Here are some flagged categories:

• Criticism of U.S. policies or leaders, including past presidents.
• Anti-capitalist or anti-corporate beliefs expressed online or in meetings.
• Non-Christian faiths such as Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, or Paganism.
• Support for LGBTQ rights, same-sex marriage, or queer community events.
• Climate activism, anti-pollution protests, and environmental advocacy.
• Defense of single-parent households and nontraditional family structures.
This sweeping list means almost any activist, blogger, or protest-goer could face government eyes. Even a private chat in a faith group or a social media “like” might trigger a federal probe.

Spy Tech ICE Is Buying

While the FBI follows the domestic terror directive, ICE is arming itself with powerful spy gear. Thanks to massive budgets from recent federal bills, ICE has spent millions on technology that rivals Russian intelligence. They acquired social media monitoring platforms claiming to scan over eight billion posts daily. They also bought cell-site simulators—fake cell towers that trick phones into connecting so agents can intercept calls, texts, and data. Beyond that, ICE deploys:

• License-plate readers on highways, toll booths, and street corners.
• Facial recognition cameras at airports, bus stations, and public events.
• Surveillance drones that can track movements across entire cities.
• Remote hacking software that infects smartphones and siphons data.
This spyware can run undetected, sending ICE your photos, messages, and even live audio from your microphone. Your battery may die faster, but you might not notice the silent invasion of your privacy.

Why This Feels Un-American

Our Constitution’s framers wrote clear protections against such overreach. The Fourth Amendment declares, “The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated.” It requires a warrant based on probable cause. Yet the domestic terror directive lets agents bypass standard warrant rules, acting on vague risks instead of real crimes. Furthermore, the First Amendment guarantees free speech, free exercise of religion, and the right to assemble. However, this directive treats peaceful protest as a potential step toward violence. In the 1770s, King George’s officers spied on colonists, read their mail, and kicked down doors. Our Founders rebelled against those abuses. Now, similar tactics threaten to return under this modern order. It echoes how authoritarian regimes label dissent “terrorism” to crush opposition.

What You Can Do

You are not powerless in the face of the domestic terror directive. Here’s how to act:
1. Contact Congress. Dial 202-224-3121 to reach your senators and representatives. Urge them to hold hearings, demand accountability, and vote against warrantless surveillance.
2. Support privacy legislation. Back bills that require court approval for digital searches and limit the use of fake cell towers or drones without probable cause.
3. Secure your data. Adopt encrypted messaging apps, enable two-factor authentication, and use a virtual private network to mask your online activity.
4. Educate your community. Share this article on social media, hold local discussions, and write letters to the editor explaining why this directive threatens civil liberties.
5. Stay informed. Follow updates on NSPM-7, Bondi’s implementing memo, and ICE’s technology contracts. Knowledge empowers effective action.

Conclusion

The new domestic terror directive marks a dangerous shift toward mass surveillance and suspicion. It turns opinions and peaceful protest into potential signals of “extremism.” With expanded powers and advanced spy tools, federal agencies can treat everyday citizens as possible terrorists. Yet our democracy still depends on our voices. By speaking out, demanding oversight, and protecting our own digital lives, we can defend the freedoms our Founders fought to secure. Now is the moment to stand up before unchecked power becomes the new norm.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the domestic terror directive?

It is an official mandate directing federal and local police to investigate individuals based on certain beliefs, speech, or protest activities. It allows agencies to review up to five years of personal data.

Who issued this directive?

President Trump signed National Security Presidential Memorandum-7 in September. Attorney General Pam Bondi then sent a detailed memo in December, putting NSPM-7 into action.

Could my peaceful protest be labeled extremism?

Yes. Under this directive, even nonviolent speech or a social media post can match an “indicator” and lead to an investigation.

How can I protect myself?

Use encrypted communication tools, strong passwords, and a VPN. Contact your lawmakers to demand warrant requirements and limits on government spying. Discuss these issues with friends and family to build wider awareness.