The program "Countering Violent Extremism," known as CVE, is set to be renamed as "Countering Islamic Extremism" or "Countering Radical Islamic Extremism," according to sources. This change would align with President Trump's campaign promises and criticisms of former President Obama's approach to fighting Islamic State. The program aims to prevent attacks by forming partnerships with communities and launching educational or counter-messaging campaigns with the help of companies like Google and Facebook. Some supporters of the program worry that rebranding it could hinder cooperation with Muslims who already have concerns about the new administration, especially following Trump's recent executive order on travel from predominantly Muslim countries. The CVE program, aimed at US residents and distinct from a military initiative against online extremism, has been criticized for its ineffectiveness. A source familiar with the Department of Homeland Security's involvement in the program revealed that members of Trump's transition team proposed changing the name and focus of the program during a meeting in December. At a recent meeting attended by senior staff for DHS Secretary John Kelly, government employees were asked to justify their selection of community organizations as recipients of CVE program grants. Despite Congress approving funding for CVE and grant recipients being notified during the Obama administration, the money may not be distributed as Kelly is currently reviewing the situation. The department declined to comment on the matter. The White House did not provide a response when asked for comment. Some Republicans in Congress have criticized a program they believe is politically correct and ineffective, arguing that focusing on "radical Islam" would help prevent violent attacks. Others believe that labeling the issue as "radical Islam" would alienate peaceful Muslim Americans. Many community groups are cautious about the program, concerned it could be used for surveillance by law enforcement. Hoda Hawa, from the Muslim Public Affairs Council, was informed by people within the Department of Homeland Security that there is a push to shift the focus of the program from addressing all forms of violent ideology to specifically Islamist extremism. She expressed concern about the targeting of a specific religious group and labeling them with suspicion. A DHS official mentioned a potential name change, but it is unclear if it has been finalized. The Obama administration worked to collaborate with community organizations for counterterrorism efforts. In 2016, Congress allocated $10 million for CVE initiatives, and DHS distributed the first grants shortly before Trump took office. Those who were approved for grants included local governments, city police departments, universities, and non-profit organizations. In addition to organizations focused on countering Islamic State recruitment in the US, grants were also given to Life After Hate, which helps rehabilitate former neo-Nazis and other domestic extremists. Recent incidents, such as a white supremacist's attack on an African-American church in Charleston and shootings and bombings by Islamist militants in California, Florida, and New York, have been attributed to radical ideologies. One recipient, Leaders Advancing & Helping Communities, a Michigan-based group led by Lebanese-Americans, declined a $500,000 grant from the Department of Homeland Security, as confirmed in an email seen by Reuters. The group's representative declined to provide further comment on the matter. The email, sent last Thursday, stated that LAHC has decided to reject the award due to the current political situation and reasons for worry. This decision was made before Trump's immigration order was issued, which was criticized for being discriminatory towards Muslims. The White House justified the order as a measure to safeguard Americans from terrorist threats posed by foreign individuals.