Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has issued an executive order labeling the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) as a “foreign terrorist organization,” escalating a growing political dispute over the Muslim civil rights group’s role in the United States. The decision immediately drew condemnation from CAIR, which denounced the designation as unconstitutional, defamatory, and politically motivated.

The announcement, shared by DeSantis on social media, aligns Florida with a similar directive issued earlier by Texas Governor Greg Abbott. CAIR is currently fighting the Texas designation in federal court and says it plans to file a similar lawsuit against Florida.

DeSantis Links CAIR to Muslim Brotherhood, Announces New Legislation

In an accompanying post, DeSantis claimed that state lawmakers are drafting legislation aimed at preventing what he described as “the creep of Sharia law” in Florida. He also said he hopes the Legislature will adopt measures to block CAIR and the Muslim Brotherhood from accessing state funding, contracts, or employment opportunities.

The executive order asserts—without publicly presented evidence—that CAIR was founded by individuals with ties to the Muslim Brotherhood and alleges that the Brotherhood seeks global Islamic rule and maintains links to Hamas. The order directs Florida agencies to enforce financial and administrative restrictions on CAIR, the Muslim Brotherhood, and individuals viewed as providing material support to them.

CAIR Responds: ‘This Is Unconstitutional’

CAIR’s Florida chapter said it intends to sue the governor, claiming the order violates constitutional protections and defames the organization. The group accused DeSantis of targeting American Muslims and serving political interests unrelated to state security.

In a sharply critical statement, CAIR argued that DeSantis has consistently prioritized foreign interests, pointing to:

• his decision to hold his first cabinet meeting in Israel,
• state investment of taxpayer funds in Israeli government bonds, and
• his attempts to dissolve Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) chapters on Florida campuses—an effort he backed away from after CAIR challenged him in federal court.

CAIR, founded in 1994, operates 25 chapters across the United States and is widely recognized as the country’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization.

Federal Government: No Terror Designation for CAIR or Muslim Brotherhood

Despite the actions taken by Texas and Florida, the U.S. federal government does not classify CAIR or the Muslim Brotherhood as terrorist organizations. However, former President Donald Trump initiated a process to consider labeling certain foreign branches of the Muslim Brotherhood—such as those in Egypt, Lebanon, and Jordan—as terrorist entities. That process has not resulting in an official U.S. designation.

Internationally, the Muslim Brotherhood—founded in Egypt nearly a century ago—says it supports establishing Islamic governance through elections and non-violent political participation.

CAIR Accuses Governors of Silencing Muslim Voices

CAIR maintains that the moves by DeSantis and Abbott are not rooted in national security concerns but in political retaliation against American Muslims who criticize U.S. support for Israeli policies, particularly during the Gaza war. The group says such designations amount to an effort to intimidate Muslim communities and restrict constitutionally protected political advocacy.

Both states’ orders impose heightened scrutiny by law enforcement, block access to state contracts, and potentially affect employees or organizations associated—directly or indirectly—with the targeted groups.

CAIR argues that such actions violate due process and exceed state authority, asserting that foreign-terrorist designations fall under federal—not state—jurisdiction.