FBI Uncovers Antifa Funding Sources, Director Patel Says

Bureau investigating nonprofits, foreign funding linked to violent acts by alleged antifa members

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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FBI Director Kash Patel said the agency has uncovered funding sources tied to antifa organizations, and is looking into whether the money was funneled through U.S. nonprofits or came from foreign sources. Patel said the FBI is "following the money" and arresting people who used funds to incite violence under the guise of peaceful protest.

Why it matters

The FBI's investigation into antifa funding sources comes after the Trump administration designated antifa as a domestic terrorist group in 2025, citing the organization's calls for the overthrow of the U.S. government and use of violence. Tracing antifa's financial backers could help disrupt the group's operations and lead to more arrests of those accused of using money to fuel unrest.

The details

Patel said the FBI is examining whether any tax-exempt nonprofits were used to funnel money to antifa, and is also looking at potential foreign funding streams. He told former deputy director Dan Bongino that "money doesn't lie" and the bureau is "starting to arrest people who used their funds to incite violence." Last year, Patel said the FBI was mapping out antifa's entire network.

  • In September 2025, the Trump administration designated antifa as a domestic terrorist group.
  • In November 2025, five defendants pleaded guilty to terrorism charges related to a July 2025 shooting that wounded a Texas police officer outside an immigration detention center.

The players

Kash Patel

The current director of the FBI who said the agency has uncovered antifa funding sources.

Dan Bongino

A former deputy director of the FBI who interviewed Patel about the investigation into antifa's funding.

Donald Trump

The former U.S. president who designated antifa as a domestic terrorist group in 2025.

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What they’re saying

“Whether it's antifa or any other violent criminal organization—we know their operations don't exist alone; they operate with heavy funding streams.”

— Kash Patel, FBI Director

“Money doesn't lie, and we're following the money and we're starting to arrest people who used their funds to incite violence in the guise of political peaceful protest.”

— Kash Patel, FBI Director

What’s next

The FBI is expected to continue its investigation into antifa's funding sources, including any potential links to U.S. nonprofits or foreign entities. More arrests of individuals accused of using money to fuel violent unrest could follow.

The takeaway

The FBI's probe into antifa's finances represents a significant escalation in the government's crackdown on the left-wing group, which the Trump administration has designated as a domestic terrorist organization. Tracing antifa's funding streams could help disrupt the group's operations and lead to more arrests of those accused of using money to incite violence.