The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has identified financial flows that allegedly support elements linked to the Antifa movement, Director Kash Patel said in late February, signalling a growing focus on the funding behind left-wing protest movements.
Speaking on a podcast hosted by his former deputy Dan Bongino, he noted that the bureau was 'following the money'.
'Whether it's Antifa or any other violent criminal organization . . . they operate with heavy funding streams,' he said. 'We will expose them and we will expose those who fund their criminal activities.'
Following the money: networks and donors
After several months, federal authorities have begun examining what has been described as a 'dark money' network identified by analysts at the Government Accountability Institute (GAI) in October 2025.
A coalition of groups including the Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL), the activist organisation ANSWER and the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA), alongside individuals such as George Soros, Alexander Soros and Neville Singham, has been linked by GAI researchers to the NGO network Arabella Advisors, which distributes grants to activist initiatives.
The list of donors associated with Arabella also includes prominent figures such as Meta chief Mark Zuckerberg, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman and Swiss billionaire Hansjörg Wyss.
GAI analysts have described this structure as a 'protest-industrial complex', suggesting it provided organisational support for demonstrations against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Los Angeles in June 2025.
In September 2025, US President Donald Trump classified Antifa as a domestic terrorist organisation, directing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to investigate both extremist networks and their sources of funding.
From activism to confrontation on the ground
In Minnesota, where Black Lives Matter protests first gained national prominence, a group known as Rapid Responders – also linked to the broader Arabella network – has been involved in organising demonstrations and monitoring the movements of federal agents.
According to its own statements, the group alerts residents to the presence of ICE convoys and collects licence plate data believed to be linked to undercover vehicles. The Trump administration has criticised such activities as resembling a parallel intelligence structure and posing a potential security risk.
Rapid Responders maintains that its methods are non-violent. That contrasts with cases such as one in Texas, where 19 protesters were charged following an attack on the Prairieland Detention Center during Fourth of July celebrations in 2025.
According to prosecutors, fireworks were used as a diversion before a police officer, Lieutenant Thomas Gross, was shot in the neck. The suspected shooter, believed by federal prosecutors to be Benjamin Song, was allegedly hiding in nearby bushes, according to court filings.
A second assailant allegedly fired between 20 and 30 rounds at ICE officers, according to Fox News. Prosecutors said the suspects wore black clothing, tactical gear and face coverings. They have linked the group to Antifa, an assertion disputed by the defence, which argues that the individuals were participating in a 'noise demonstration'.
Two of the defendants, Bradford (Meagan) Morris and Cameron Arnold, who uses the name ‘Autumn Hill’, identify as women but could face imprisonment in male facilities if convicted.
Shifting influence among advocacy groups
Beyond the legal cases, some advocacy organisations appear to be losing influence. The Human Rights Campaign (HRC), which promotes corporate diversity standards, has seen a sharp decline in participation in its Corporate Equality Index.
While 377 companies took part in 2025, the number has fallen to 131 this year, according to the conservative outlet Daily Signal. HRC said, however, that participating companies still employ around 22 million Americans.
‘It is important to be clear – it remains unconstitutional to discriminate against LGBTQ+ workers. Nearly 30% of Gen Z identify as LGBTQ+, and the community represents $1.4 trillion in buying power,’ said HRC president Kelley Robinson, who has led the organisation since 2022 and previously worked with Planned Parenthood.
HRC evaluates companies on diversity and inclusion criteria and has previously awarded high ratings to firms including Monsanto, later acquired by Bayer, as well as Boston Consulting Group, Goldman Sachs and the law firm Kirkland & Ellis.
According to reporting by The Daily Signal, HRC has also received support from networks associated with Arabella Advisors and was influential in shaping policy priorities during the Biden administration, with claims that a significant portion of its agenda was adopted.
At the same time, conservative groups such as Alliance Defending Freedom have developed alternative corporate rating systems focusing on freedom of religion and diversity of opinion.
Some figures associated with the wider network have also drawn political scrutiny. Neville Singham has been linked to meetings in Cuba involving figures including Vijay Prashad and representatives of the Cuban Communist Party, according to statements posted on social media platform X.
Texas Congressman Chip Roy called for an immediate investigation into the NGO alliance. 'That this group would openly meet with Cuba tells you how urgent it is for the administration and state law enforcement entities, including attorneys general, to immediately investigate these groups and the myriad other groups that are clearly acting against our national security interests', he declared.
Questions over support within Trump’s base
Questions remain about the political impact of these developments. The Trump administration has faced criticism from parts of its own base over policy shifts, including adjustments to immigration enforcement and labour measures affecting migrant workers.
Reports have also emerged suggesting that Trump is seeking broader political support for legislation related to so-called 'gender-affirming care'. A post on his Truth Social account outlining aspects of the proposal was later amended, prompting debate over the administration's position.
After a series of policy shifts and amid escalating tensions abroad, including conflict with Iran, it remains unclear how much support Trump retains among the voters who backed him in the 2024 election.