The U.S. government has revealed the formation of an interagency group, the Interagency Weaponization Working Group (IWWG), in response to an executive order issued by President Donald Trump on the first day of his second term. The order, titled “Ending the Weaponization of the Federal Government,” aims to address what Trump and his allies describe as the misuse of federal power against him during his two impeachments, criminal prosecutions, and investigations into Russian interference in the 2016 election.
According to a report by Reuters, the IWWG is an umbrella organization involving at least 39 officials from across the federal government, including the White House, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and departments of Defense, Homeland Security, and Justice (DOJ). The group was reportedly established following an executive order aimed at countering what Trump’s administration calls the “weaponization” of government agencies.
Reuters reported that the group’s mission, as described by an unnamed source, is to “go after ‘the Deep State'”—a term used by Trump and his supporters to refer to perceived adversaries from previous administrations, including those associated with the Obama and Biden presidencies. The group has been meeting biweekly since April, according to statements made by Tulsi Gabbard, the Director of National Intelligence, who said she “stood up this working group.”
In a statement to Fox News, Gabbard claimed that the IWWG was formed to “deliver accountability” under Trump’s leadership, emphasizing that the American people had “made a clear choice” to stop what she described as the “prolific and dangerous weaponization of government agencies against the American people and the Constitution.” She added that “true accountability is the first step toward lasting change.”
However, the group has drawn criticism and skepticism from various quarters. Unnamed officials have expressed concerns that the media has mischaracterized the IWWG as a tool for targeting political opponents, calling such claims “classic projection.” One official told Fox, “Accusing the Interagency Weaponization Working Group of targeting the president’s political opponents is classic projection and could not be further from the truth.”
Reuters reported that the IWWG has discussed potential targets, including former FBI Director James Comey, Anthony Fauci, and former top military commanders involved in implementing mandatory vaccination policies for military personnel. The report also mentioned discussions about former President Joe Biden’s son, Hunter Biden. A senior ODNI official denied any intent to target individuals for retribution, stating that the group is focused on examining actions and evidence related to alleged past abuses of government power.
Fauci and lawyers for Hunter Biden and Comey did not respond to requests for comment. Meanwhile, Comey is currently facing criminal charges, which his legal team argues are part of a broader effort by officials to “punish and imprison their perceived personal and political enemies.” Following Comey’s indictment, Trump vowed that “there’ll be others,” and more high-profile figures, including former national security adviser John Bolton and New York Attorney General Letitia James, have also faced indictments.
Despite these developments, officials from the White House and ODNI have denied that the IWWG has discussed matters such as the Epstein files, revoking security clearances for transgender officials, or cases involving Steve Bannon and Sebastian Norwood. Nevertheless, critics argue that the group appears to align with Trump’s “enemies list” and may serve as a mechanism for retaliation.
Larry Pfeiffer, a former senior director of the White House Situation Room, sarcastically referred to the IWWG as an “interagency enemies list committee” on social media, while Mother Jones editor-in-chief Clara Jeffery called it the president’s “revenge committee.” These reactions underscore the growing concern over the group’s potential impact on the balance of power and the integrity of government institutions.
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