A surge in transgender-related violence is challenging law enforcement, highlighting the FBI’s lack of tools to address this emerging threat.
Rise in Transgender-Related Violence
Over the past five years, there has been a notable increase in transgender-related mass shootings, with at least four or five confirmed cases from 2018 to 2025. This marks a significant rise compared to just one documented case before 2018, according to The Violence Project database. Recent incidents include a 2025 attack on a Catholic church in Minnesota, where a transgender individual killed two children and injured 17.
You're looking at the woman who funded the trantifa terror cell who killed Charlie Kirk on stage with Elizabeth Warren.
Don't ever let mainstream Democrats claim they didn't play a role in this assassination. pic.twitter.com/mEfCUgFfp1
— Aesthetica (@Anc_Aesthetics) September 17, 2025
The FBI’s current crime reporting systems do not track gender identity, complicating efforts to understand and address this trend. Official records categorize offenders by biological sex, often misrepresenting transgender shooters. Without a centralized dataset, the true scope of transgender-related violence remains elusive.
The Role of Trantifa
Trantifa, a loosely organized movement of far-left transgender activists associated with Antifa ideology, is often linked to these violent incidents. They view the United States as systemically oppressive toward trans people, framing laws against gender-related practices as a “trans genocide.” This belief justifies their aggressive actions, escalating tensions and violence.
Trantifa activists have been involved in several high-profile incidents, including disrupting events, harassing individuals, and engaging in violent confrontations. Their activities have raised concerns among law enforcement and conservative groups, highlighting the need for a comprehensive response.
Calls for New FBI Designations
Mike Howell, president of the Oversight Project, advocates for the FBI to establish a new domestic terrorism category called Transgender Ideology-Inspired Violence and Extremism (TIVE). This would allow investigations to be conducted through the FBI’s counterterrorism branch, similar to how cases from January 6 were handled.
Actual gay ISIS.
We call you Trantifa for a reason. https://t.co/tw3ROaoeMW pic.twitter.com/q6h8GTsMSO
— Sol ☀⛈ (@RainyViera) September 25, 2025
Howell argues that adding TIVE to the FBI’s list of designations would provide clearer categorization and enable agencies to study, report on, and develop policies to address the issue. This would also facilitate data collection, allowing for more accurate tracking and prevention of transgender-related violence.