10/06/2025
FBI Director Kash Patel announced on October 1, 2025, that the bureau is officially severing ties with the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), calling the organization a “political front masquerading as a watchdog.”
Patel accused the ADL of spying on conservative groups and embedding agents during James Comey’s tenure, sparking controversy over past collaborations. The move follows backlash from conservatives, including Elon Musk and Donald Trump Jr., after the ADL labeled Turning Point USA (TPUSA) as extremist for promoting “Christian nationalism,” charges TPUSA denies.
The ADL reaffirmed its mission to fight antisemitism, but the FBI’s decision reflects a broader trend of distancing from traditional civil rights organizations, coming shortly after cutting ties with the Southern Poverty Law Center. This signals a major shift in how the bureau approaches partnerships in combating extremism and raises questions about the future of civil rights collaboration in law enforcement.