The program known as "Countering Violent Extremism," or CVE, is reportedly going to be renamed to "Countering Islamic Extremism" or "Countering Radical Islamic Extremism." This change would align with President Trump's campaign rhetoric and criticism of former President Obama for not using the term "radical Islam." The program focuses on deterring groups or individuals who may carry out attacks through community partnerships, educational programs, and counter-messaging campaigns with companies like Google and Facebook. Some supporters of the program are concerned that rebranding it could hinder the government's ability to work with Muslims who are already hesitant to trust the new administration, especially after the recent travel ban executive order targeting predominantly Muslim countries. However, the CVE program, which targets US residents and is distinct from a military campaign against extremism online, has faced criticism, even from some of its supporters, who consider it ineffective. An individual who has collaborated closely with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on the program revealed that members of the Trump transition team met with a CVE task force in December and suggested changing the program's name and focus. During a recent meeting attended by senior staff for DHS Secretary John Kelly, government employees were questioned about their selection of community organizations to receive CVE program grants. Despite Congress appropriating funding for CVE and grant recipients being notified during the final days of 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 to a request for comment. Some Republicans in Congress have criticized the program, arguing that using the term "radical Islam" would help deter violent attacks, while others believe it would alienate peaceful Muslim Americans. Community groups have also been cautious about the program, fearing 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 was a shift in focus from all violent ideologies to specifically Islamist extremism in the CVE effort. She expressed concern about the targeting of a religious group and putting it under suspicion. According to a source, a name change was mentioned by a DHS official. Other sources, who wished to remain anonymous, mentioned discussions about the plans but could not confirm if they were finalized. The Obama administration worked on building relationships with community groups for counterterrorism efforts. In 2016, Congress allocated $10 million for CVE efforts, and DHS granted the first round of funds on Jan. 13, a week before Trump took office. Approved recipients included local governments, city police departments, universities, and non-profit organizations, as well as groups dedicated to countering Islamic State recruitment in the United States. Grants were also given to organizations like Life After Hate, which works to rehabilitate former neo-Nazis and other domestic extremists. Recent violent incidents, such as the shooting at an African-American church in South Carolina and attacks in California, Florida, and New York, have been attributed to radical ideologies. One grant recipient, Leaders Advancing & Helping Communities, a Michigan-based group led by Lebanese-Americans, declined a $500,000 grant from the Department of Homeland Security, though they did not provide further comment. The email sent last Thursday stated that due to the current political situation and reasons for worry, LAHC has decided to refuse the award. This decision was made before Trump's immigration order was issued, a move that sparked criticism domestically and internationally for being discriminatory against Muslims, although the White House claimed it was meant to safeguard the American population from potential terrorist threats posed by foreign individuals.