Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday issued an executive order posted on the social media site X that labels the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and the Muslim Brotherhood as “foreign terrorist organizations,” and directs state agencies to bar both groups and those who have provided them material support from state contracts, employment and funding. The move follows a similar proclamation by Texas last month and comes despite neither group being designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the U.S. government. CAIR and its Florida chapter said in an emailed response that they plan to sue, calling the proclamation unconstitutional and defamatory. The order escalates a legal and political clash over state-level designations and the boundaries between state powers and federal counterterrorism policy.
Key Takeaways
- Governor Ron DeSantis issued an executive order on Monday labeling CAIR and the Muslim Brotherhood as “foreign terrorist organizations,” instructing Florida agencies to cut contracts, employment and funds. The directive was posted on X by the governor’s office.
- Neither CAIR nor the Muslim Brotherhood is listed as a foreign terrorist organization by the U.S. Department of State; federal designation remains unchanged.
- CAIR, founded in 1994, operates roughly 25 chapters nationwide and immediately announced plans to sue, calling the Florida proclamation unconstitutional and defamatory.
- The action mirrors a Texas proclamation issued last month by Gov. Greg Abbott; CAIR has already asked a federal judge to strike down the Texas proclamation as contrary to the U.S. Constitution.
- The order instructs state executive and cabinet agencies to block state contracts, employment and funding for the two groups and for anyone who provided them material support, setting up likely legal challenges over state authority and First Amendment protections.
Background
CAIR was established in 1994 as a civil rights and advocacy organization representing Muslim Americans; it now lists about 25 chapters across the United States and focuses on legal aid, public education and policy advocacy. The group has been a frequent target of criticism from some law-enforcement and political actors, while civil liberties organizations and many legal experts regard it as a mainstream advocacy group for Muslim civil rights.
The Muslim Brotherhood originated in Egypt nearly a century ago and has evolved into a broad international movement with local branches in multiple countries. Brotherhood leaders say they renounced violence decades ago and pursue political influence primarily through elections and social programs; however, several governments in the Middle East and elsewhere have long treated the movement as a political threat.
At the federal level in the United States, the Secretary of State is responsible for formally designating groups as foreign terrorist organizations under a statutory process that carries criminal penalties and sanctions. States do not have an equivalent statutory channel to replicate federal terrorist designations, which is one reason the Texas and Florida proclamations are prompting immediate legal scrutiny.
Main Event
On Monday, Gov. DeSantis posted an executive order on X labeling CAIR and the Muslim Brotherhood as foreign terrorist organizations and directing state agencies to ensure those groups and their material supporters are not awarded state contracts, hired by the state, or provided state funds. The order repeats language that the governor’s office has used to frame the measures as necessary for state security and integrity of public contracts.
The directive echoes a step taken in Texas last month by Gov. Greg Abbott; CAIR responded to the Texas proclamation by filing a lawsuit requesting that a federal judge void the proclamation as inconsistent with the Constitution and state law. In its Florida response, CAIR stated it will similarly challenge DeSantis’ action in court and characterized the Florida order as unlawful and defamatory.
State officials in Florida have begun reviewing contracts and agency processes in response to the executive order while defense of the action is likely to invoke state sovereignty and public-safety rationales. Legal observers note the practical effects of a state-level label differ from a federal Foreign Terrorist Organization listing, which triggers specific criminal and immigration consequences managed by federal agencies.
Analysis & Implications
Legally, the order raises a core question about the limits of state authority to place punitive or exclusionary conditions on entities that are not federally designated as terrorist organizations. Because the U.S. Constitution protects political association and expression, courts will likely scrutinize whether the order unlawfully targets protected advocacy activity or improperly penalizes third parties who have provided services.
Practically, the order could disrupt how Florida agencies procure goods and services if procurement officers interpret the directive broadly. Companies and nonprofits with past ties to CAIR or listed individuals may face heightened compliance reviews or contract suspensions, even where no federal prohibition exists. That uncertainty can chill partnerships and raise transactional costs for state vendors and grantees.
Politically, the proclamation positions DeSantis alongside other Republican governors who have taken hardline stances on groups they view as politically contentious, potentially mobilizing certain voters while provoking civil liberties groups and progressive organizations. It could also encourage other states to adopt similar measures, increasing the likelihood of a patchwork of conflicting state actions that federal courts may need to resolve.
Internationally, the move taps into long-standing debates about the Muslim Brotherhood’s role in global politics. While Brotherhood affiliates vary widely by country, the Florida order has symbolic resonance abroad and may complicate diplomatic and community-level conversations about extremism, reform and political Islam.
Comparison & Data
| Group | U.S. Federal FTO list | Texas proclamation | Florida order |
|---|---|---|---|
| CAIR | No | Proclaimed last month | Proclaimed Monday |
| Muslim Brotherhood | No | Proclaimed last month | Proclaimed Monday |
| Hamas | Yes | N/A | N/A |
The table above highlights that CAIR and the Muslim Brotherhood are not on the U.S. Department of State’s Foreign Terrorist Organization list, while groups such as Hamas remain federally designated. State proclamations do not carry the same criminal or sanctions architecture as a federal FTO listing, but they may still affect contracting, employment and licensing at the state level.
Reactions & Quotes
CAIR said the Florida proclamation is “unconstitutional” and “defamatory” and announced plans to challenge the order in court.
CAIR (statement to media)
In legal filings related to the Texas action, CAIR argued the proclamation was “not only contrary to the United States Constitution, but finds no support in any Texas law.”
CAIR (lawsuit)
The governor’s order describes the organizations as a “foreign terrorist organization” and directs state agencies to withhold contracts, hires and funds.
Office of the Governor of Florida (executive order/X post)
Unconfirmed
- Whether Florida agencies will immediately suspend existing contracts or take a narrow compliance approach is not yet confirmed; agencies have begun reviews but formal procurement actions have not been publicly detailed.
- It is not yet known how federal agencies or the Department of Justice will respond to state-level proscriptions against groups not federally designated; any coordination or intervention has not been announced.
Bottom Line
DeSantis’ executive order marks an escalation in state-level efforts to label organizations tied to controversial political or religious movements, but it stops short of changing federal terrorist designations. The practical effect will largely hinge on how aggressively Florida agencies enforce the prohibition and how courts treat claims that the order violates constitutional protections.
Expect immediate litigation from CAIR seeking to block the order and broader legal challenges that could clarify whether and how states can impose penalties on groups absent a federal terrorist designation. Observers should watch agency procurement notices, forthcoming court filings, and any responses from federal authorities for indications of the order’s real-world reach.
Sources
- AP News (national news outlet) — original report on Florida executive order
- Council on American-Islamic Relations (advocacy organization) — public statements and legal filings
- U.S. Department of State (official) — Foreign Terrorist Designations
- Office of the Governor of Florida (official) — executive orders and statements