On September 25, 2025, Donald Trump signed National Security Presidential Memorandum 7, titled “Countering Domestic Terrorism and Organized Political Violence.” The ACLU warned the memo could threaten free speech and target activists, nonprofits, and donors. Hina Shamsi, director of the ACLU’s National Security Project, called it a move meant to frighten and silence critics of the administration.
She clarified that the memo creates no new legal authority. Labeling groups as “domestic terrorism organizations” carries no legal weight because U.S. law does not recognize such a designation for domestic groups. There is also no federal crime called “domestic terrorism.”
The directive tells federal agencies to investigate groups using broad terms like “anti-capitalism” or “opposition to traditional American views.” The ACLU says this echoes past abuses like COINTELPRO and risks violating First Amendment rights. Shamsi stressed that constitutional protections remain in place and urged the public to defend their rights and resist efforts to suppress dissent.
She clarified that the memo creates no new legal authority. Labeling groups as “domestic terrorism organizations” carries no legal weight because U.S. law does not recognize such a designation for domestic groups. There is also no federal crime called “domestic terrorism.”
The directive tells federal agencies to investigate groups using broad terms like “anti-capitalism” or “opposition to traditional American views.” The ACLU says this echoes past abuses like COINTELPRO and risks violating First Amendment rights. Shamsi stressed that constitutional protections remain in place and urged the public to defend their rights and resist efforts to suppress dissent.
