Reports emerge that federal officials are considering classifying transgender people under a new extremist label. The discussion is still unofficial—but if it moves forward, it could reshape how U.S. law enforcement treats identity, dissent, and threat.

What the Reports Say

Journalist Ken Klippenstein reports, citing two anonymous national security officials, that the FBI is discussing treating transgender people as a subset under a newly created domestic threat category called “Nihilistic Violent Extremists” (NVEs). Under this potential designation, trans individuals might face heightened scrutiny or enforcement.
source: Ken Klippenstein

The Proposal from Heritage / Project 2025

The Heritage Foundation, in coordination with the Oversight Project (a group tied to Project 2025), has petitioned the FBI to formally designate “Transgender Ideology-Inspired Violent Extremism” (TIVE) as a domestic terror threat.
source: The Independent

Their petition cites recent political violence and rhetoric as justification, referring in part to the assassination of Charlie Kirk as an example. However, the petition does *not* provide publicly verified evidence that trans people are organizing extremist cells under TIVE.

What Is “Nihilistic Violent Extremism”?

According to sources reported by Klippenstein, NVEs are defined (by officials in discussion) as “criminal conduct … in furtherance of political, social, or religious goals that derive primarily from a hatred of society at large and a desire to bring about its collapse by sowing indiscriminate chaos.”
source: Them.us

What Is Confirmed — vs. What’s Only Alleged

• Confirmed: The petition by Heritage / Oversight Project asking for TIVE is real. Multiple outlets have reported it.
• Confirmed: Ken Klippenstein’s report of anonymous officials discussing NVEs.
• Alleged / Not yet confirmed: That the FBI has formally made trans people a protected subset under NVEs. No public document or policy confirms that.
• Alleged / Not yet confirmed: That the term “TIVE” or “trans extremist ideology” is being used by law enforcement officially. It is a proposal.

Why This Is Raising Alarm Bells

Civil liberties and LGBTQ+ advocacy groups warn that branding entire identities or ideologies as extremist risk conflating protected speech and belief with violence—especially when evidence of organized wrongdoing is weak or absent. This could create a chilling effect: where trans people, activists, or even allies face surveillance, stigma, or prosecution for beliefs rather than actions.

Some reports note misinformation already circulating around Charlie Kirk’s death—such as claims about bullet casings with “transgender engravings”—were later debunked. Critics argue that such claims are being used to justify broader extremist-framing.
source: Them.us

Where This Could Lead

If adopted, the classification of TIVE or trans people under NVEs could lead to policy changes including increased surveillance, stricter enforcement, or inclusion in threat monitoring. Related: in The Assassination of Charlie Kirk: Are We at a Turning Point?, we explore how political violence and narrative are colliding in policies.

Courts, public backlash, and constitutional checks could slow or block these moves—but the mere discussion is enough to shift public debate and norms around what counts as acceptable speech or activism.

Final Thoughts

What’s unfolding now is not yet policy—but a proposal with serious implications. The risk is real: when governments start defining categories like “violent extremism” not just by actions, but by identity or ideology, lines blur dangerously.

The proper response isn’t panic—but vigilance. Watching what lawmakers push, what enforcement looks like, and what evidence they use will matter more than any petition or memo alone.