Florida Governor Designates CAIR a Terrorist Group in New Order

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis on Tuesday issued an executive order declaring the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) a “foreign terrorist organization,” directing all state agencies to cut ties with the group and block it from contracts, funding, and participation in state programs.

The order also places the Muslim Brotherhood on Florida’s list of designated terrorist groups.

The action follows a similar move by Texas Governor Greg Abbott, marking the second state-level designation of CAIR this month. DeSantis said the decision was based on what he described as links between CAIR, the Muslim Brotherhood, and Hamas, which carried out the October 7, 2023 attack in Israel that led to Israel’s subsequent military campaign in Gaza. He argued that the designation was necessary to prevent state resources from reaching groups he views as connected to extremist networks.

• Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis designates CAIR a terrorist group, sparking major legal and civil-rights clash
• State order targeting CAIR and the Muslim Brotherhood raises federal authority and due-process concerns
• CAIR vows court challenge as Florida expands state-level terrorism designations amid national debate

CAIR rejected the allegations, with the group’s Florida chapter calling the order “false, unconstitutional, and damaging.” CAIR said the governor’s action misrepresents its work and infringes on civil rights and religious freedom, and announced plans to challenge the designation in court.

Legal analysts noted that CAIR is not listed as a terrorist organization by the U.S. federal government, and the Muslim Brotherhood has never been formally designated at the federal level. Analysts warned that state-issued terrorism labels for domestic civil rights groups raise due-process concerns, potential conflicts with federal authority, and questions about the scope of state jurisdiction.

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The order adds a new point of conflict in national debates over counterterrorism policy, Muslim civil rights, and state power in defining threats within the United States. CAIR’s expected legal challenge is set to become a significant test of state authority in this area.