Florida Governor DeSantis Designates CAIR as 'Foreign Terrorist Organization'

Executive Order Issued in Florida

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed Executive Order 25-244 on Monday, December 8, 2025, formally designating the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and the Muslim Brotherhood as 'foreign terrorist organizations' for purposes of state policy. The order, which took immediate effect, directs Florida agencies to undertake all lawful measures to prevent what the state describes as 'unlawful activities' by these groups. This includes restricting any organization or individual providing material support to them from receiving state contracts, employment, funds, or other benefits regulated by the state.

Governor DeSantis announced the decision, stating that the action is 'about protecting Floridians from the threat of radical Islamic terrorism' and that Florida 'will not allow organisations aligned with extremist ideologies to exploit the freedoms of our state'. He also expressed hope that the Florida Legislature would codify these protections into legislation to 'stop the creep of sharia law'.

DeSantis Cites Alleged Ties and Past Cases

The executive order from Governor DeSantis points to alleged connections between the designated organizations and anti-Israel groups, including Hamas and Hezbollah. It references the Muslim Brotherhood's role in the founding of Hamas and cites the 2009 federal case United States v. Holy Land Foundation, where CAIR was named an unindicted co-conspirator in a terrorism financing case.

DeSantis's move mirrors a similar action taken by Texas Governor Greg Abbott in November 2025, who also designated the Muslim Brotherhood and CAIR as foreign terrorist organizations. Neither CAIR nor the Muslim Brotherhood is currently designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the U.S. federal government.

CAIR Vows Legal Challenge

In response to the executive order, CAIR and its Florida chapter issued a joint statement condemning the designation as 'defamatory and unconstitutional'. The organization announced its intention to file a lawsuit against the DeSantis administration, stating, 'We look forward to defeating Governor DeSantis' latest Israel First stunt in a court of law, where facts matter and conspiracy theories have no weight.'

CAIR accused Governor DeSantis of prioritizing the Israeli government over the interests of Floridians and attempting to silence American Muslims who are critical of U.S. policies toward Israel. They emphasized that CAIR is an American civil rights organization that has never been federally designated as a terrorist group. CAIR also disputes the 'unindicted co-conspirator' label from the Holy Land Foundation case, calling it 'an unproven allegation with no weight and no consequence'.

Implications and Broader Context

The designation by Florida is a state-level action and does not carry the same legal weight as a federal designation by the U.S. Department of State, which can lead to severe consequences such as freezing assets and criminal prosecution for providing material support. However, the executive order does impact state-level interactions, including eligibility for state contracts and benefits.

This development comes amid broader national discussions regarding the designation of organizations as terrorist entities and the authority of state governments in such matters. CAIR has also initiated legal action against the similar designation made by the State of Texas.