The directive orders federal agencies to build a far-reaching law enforcement strategy to investigate and dismantle what it calls "sophisticated, organized campaigns of targeted intimidation, radicalization, threats, and violence." The directive is about anticipating crimes, identifying "predicate actions," and intervening before political violence occurs. The FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Forces (JTTFs) is directed to investigate not only violent acts, but also "potential Federal crimes relating to acts of recruiting or radicalizing persons."

The JTTFs are told to probe "institutional and individual funders, and officers and employees of organizations" that may aid suspects; many innocent people could fall under suspicion. The Treasury Department has ordered to "trace illicit funding streams" and push banks to file Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs). There is great potential for this to be misused.

Last Thursday, President Donald Trump issued National Security Presidential Memorandum 7 (NSPM-7), titled "Countering Domestic Terrorism and Organized Political Violence."

The directive orders federal agencies to build a far-reaching law enforcement strategy to investigate and dismantle what it calls "sophisticated, organized campaigns of targeted intimidation, radicalization, threats, and violence."

"Heinous assassinations and other acts of political violence in the United States have dramatically increased in recent years," the memorandum states. It cites the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, attacks on a healthcare executive and Justice Brett Kavanaugh, riots that caused "over $2 billion in property damage nationwide," and shootings at an ICE facility in Texas.