A Justice Department study that underscored the deadly threat posed by far-right extremists in the United States has been quietly removed from the agency’s website, AFP confirmed.

The research conducted by the National Institute of Justice, concluded that far-right extremists have carried out significantly more ideologically motivated homicides than far-left or radical extremists since 1990.

Its findings stand in contrast to recent statements from senior Trump administration officials who have emphasised left-wing extremism particularly after the September 10 assasination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk in Utah.

The paper titled What NIJ research tells us about domestic terrorism, disappeared from the DOJ’s Office if Justice Programs website shortly after the shooting.

According to 404 Media, archived snapshots from the Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine show the study was accessible on September 11 but removed the following day.

The DOJ has not explained why the research was taken down. One of its cited authors declined to comment when contacted by AFP.

Other government studies detailing the threat from far-right extremism remain online. Still the timing of the removal has drawn scrutiny as the White House announced on Monday it would pursue an alleged left-wing “domestic terror movement” in response to Kirk’s killing a move critics fear could be used to stifle political dissent.

Although federal agencies investigate domestic terrorism, the US does not maintain a formal list of designated domestic terrorist organisation.