Countering Violent Extremism Task Force
The Countering Violent Extremism Task Force, is a US government program established under the Obama administration to counter all violent ideologies, held by groups or individuals in the US, by engaging communities in the counterterrorism effort and by education programs or counter-messaging. The program works with community groups such as local governments, police departments, universities, and non-profits.
In December 2016, the incoming Trump presidential transition team planned to stop the program from targeting white supremacists, which have committed bombings and shootings such as at a black church in Charleston. The program was also planned to be renamed to "Countering Radical Islamic Extremism". Congressional Republicans have criticized CVE for being politically correct, arguing that using the term "Radical Islam" would prevent violent attacks. Community groups have had concerns that the program could be used to target faith groups for surveillance. In May 2017, the Trump White House proposed to cut all funding to CVE. In July 2017, George Selim, a Republican who worked in the Bush administration and headed the CVE, resigned. Selim said that government cooperation with Muslim communities has proven crucial to preventing terrorist attacks but that Trump appointees saw no value in this effort. In August 2017, reacting to reports that the Trump administration rescinded a grant to an organization fighting against neo-Nazism, the Southern Poverty Law Center warned that the threat of domestic terrorism from white supremacists remained high, pointing to an attack in Portland that happened in May.
As of October, 2018, the task force exists in name only. Its staff members have returned to their home agencies and departments.
