A SPRAWLING interagency task force involving current and former officials from across the US government has been coordinating efforts to fulfil former President Donald Trump’s directive to root out what he calls the “weaponisation” of federal power, according to internal documents reviewed by Reuters and a source familiar with the matter.
Known as the Interagency Weaponization Working Group (IWWG), the collective comprises representatives from the White House, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), the CIA, the Departments of Justice and Defence, the FBI, the Internal Revenue Service, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Federal Communications Commission, among others.
Reuters reported on Tuesday that its existence underscores how Trump’s pledge to retaliate against what he claims is a politically motivated “Deep State” has taken shape within the government machinery, with input from officials across the intelligence, defence, law enforcement, and policy spheres.
“The group’s mission is basically to go after ‘the Deep State,’” said a source familiar with its internal discussions, referring to a term commonly used by Trump and his allies to describe perceived adversaries within past and present US administrations.
The IWWG was formed after Trump signed an executive order on his first day back in office in January, directing Attorney General Pam Bondi to coordinate with federal agencies “to identify and take appropriate action to correct past misconduct by the federal government related to the weaponization of law enforcement and the Intelligence Community.”
ODNI: ‘Americans deserve a depoliticised government’
ODNI spokesperson Olivia Coleman confirmed the group’s existence, stating: “Americans deserve a government committed to deweaponizing, depoliticizing and ensuring that power is never again turned against the people it’s meant to serve.”
Attorney General Pam Bondi and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard had previously announced the creation of internal agency groups to pursue such efforts. Fox News reported the group’s existence after Reuters began making enquiries, citing Gabbard as saying she had initiated it. Key details, however, remain unreported until now.
A White House official downplayed the development, claiming anonymously that “none of this reporting is new.”
Documents reviewed by Reuters identify 39 individuals affiliated with the IWWG.
At least 10 are ODNI officials, and many are known supporters of Trump’s claims regarding the 2020 election and vaccine mandates. Among them is Justice Department attorney Ed Martin, currently serving as pardon attorney and overseeing Bondi’s DOJ weaponisation task force. Martin had previously failed to secure Senate confirmation due to his public support for January 6 rioters.
Others include former FBI agent Jared Wise, who was prosecuted for his role in the Capitol riot and now works under Bondi’s team, and Andrew “Mac” Warner, a former West Virginia official who alleged CIA involvement in stealing the 2020 election. Both declined to comment.
Focus on Russia probe, January 6 prosecutions, and Fauci
The group’s internal discussions reportedly covered several controversial figures, including former FBI Director James Comey, ex-White House medical advisor Dr Anthony Fauci, and senior military commanders who implemented COVID-19 vaccine mandates for service members.
The source claimed the group also considered reviewing the cases of Hunter Biden, the late Jeffrey Epstein, and prosecuted Trump allies Steve Bannon and Peter Navarro. A senior ODNI official denied such discussions took place, and a White House official said the Epstein files “have not been part of the conversation.”
The group’s scope allegedly includes targeting individuals involved in the Russia investigation, particularly those who contributed to the 2017 intelligence assessment that found Russian interference in the 2016 election in favour of Trump. That assessment has since been upheld by bipartisan reviews, including one ordered by Trump’s former CIA Director.
Gabbard, however, has claimed documents show former President Barack Obama instructed intelligence agencies to fabricate the findings—a charge rejected by Obama’s office as “bizarre.”
Concerns over legality and transparency
While the existence of the IWWG has now been confirmed by multiple officials, its operational powers remain unclear.
Reuters could not determine whether it holds authority to direct agencies to act or whether its role is primarily advisory. Interagency working groups typically coordinate on policy matters and share information, but they are not traditionally instruments of political retribution.
In Congress, both Republican and Democratic lawmakers have raised concerns about transparency. A recent defence spending bill requires Gabbard to disclose the members, funding, and security clearance status of her own team—known as the Directors Initiatives Group (DIG), which appears closely linked to the interagency effort.
Among the DIG’s most active members is Paul McNamara, a retired Marine officer and Gabbard aide who is said to oversee many of the IWWG’s operations.
According to documents, McNamara’s team has explored using “technical tools” to search government networks for evidence of political bias—a claim ODNI officials deny as a mischaracterisation of how intelligence systems function.
Political backdrop and future implications
The weaponisation narrative has become central to Trump’s political messaging, fuelling both his 2024 campaign and a broader conservative movement to reform—or in some cases, dismantle—parts of the federal bureaucracy.
While the ODNI and DOJ maintain that the IWWG is simply reviewing available evidence of past abuses, critics argue that the initiative bears the hallmarks of a politically motivated purge, especially given the involvement of individuals who have either been prosecuted for, or publicly support, actions tied to the January 6 Capitol attack.
Reuters was unable to confirm the extent of Trump’s direct involvement with the group. However, its alignment with his campaign rhetoric—and the involvement of many vocal loyalists—suggests the initiative may serve both as a policy instrument and a symbolic gesture of retribution.
Requests for comment from Fauci, Comey, and Hunter Biden were not immediately answered. The CIA, DOD, IRS, FCC, FBI, and other implicated agencies either declined or did not respond to Reuters’ queries. - October 21, 2025
