Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced on Monday that he has signed an executive order designating the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and the Muslim Brotherhood as foreign terrorist organizations. This follows similar steps taken by the state of Texas. CAIR, one of the largest Muslim civil rights organizations in the country, and its Florida chapter described the decision as a "publicity stunt," vowing to file a similar lawsuit against the state. In a joint statement, they noted that CAIR is an American civil rights organization that has spent decades promoting freedom of speech, religious freedom, and justice for all, including the Palestinian people. The order also states that CAIR was founded by individuals affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood. Unlike the Texas decision, Florida's executive order does not appear to impose restrictions on CAIR, which has an office in Tampa, or the Muslim Brotherhood, purchasing real estate within the state. The order calls on state agencies to prevent CAIR and the Muslim Brotherhood, as well as any entity known to have provided them with "material support or resources," from obtaining government contracts, jobs, funding, or any other public benefits. The order also grants the state's Internal Security Council, composed of heads of government agencies, the authority to review laws, regulations, and policies related to "confronting potential threats" from the designated organizations and to recommend any additional actions. The Council is required to conduct a comprehensive review of existing legal authorities, regulations, and policies for addressing the threats posed by the designated organizations and submit recommendations for any additional required actions to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives by January 6, 2026.
