Designation of Certain Muslim Brotherhood Chapters as Foreign Terrorist Organizations and Specially Designated Global Terrorists
This Presidential Action invokes constitutional and statutory authority, including the Immigration and Nationality Act and the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, to initiate the formal designation process for certain chapters of the Muslim Brotherhood located in Lebanon, Jordan, and Egypt as Foreign Terrorist Organizations and Specially Designated Global Terrorists.
The stated purpose is to counter violence and destabilization campaigns allegedly carried out by these transnational groups that threaten the security of U.S. citizens and interests, mandating a joint report from the Secretaries of State and Treasury within 30 days to guide subsequent designation actions.
Arguments For
The action cites specific violent activities by Muslim Brotherhood chapters in Lebanon, Jordan, and Egypt, including support for Hamas attacks against Israel and threats against U.S. interests, establishing a national security threat justification.
Using the authority under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) and the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), the order leverages established legal frameworks for designating foreign terrorist organizations and freezing assets.
The policy aims to eliminate the capabilities and operations of these chapters, thereby protecting U.S. nationals and strengthening national security through cooperation with regional partners.
The order mandates a structured, timed process involving key departments (State, Treasury, Justice, DNI) to ensure a thorough review before formal designation and implementation of sanctions.
Arguments Against
Designating decentralized, transnational organizations or specific chapters can lead to complex implementation challenges regarding which entities are legally captured by the designation.
Broad designations against groups with diverse local activities may unintendedly affect legitimate political or social organizations operating under the banner of the Muslim Brotherhood in regions not actively engaging in the cited violence.
Critics may argue that the reliance on specific, recent events (like the October 7th attacks) as primary justification may politicize the designation process rather than fulfilling a consistent, long-term counterterrorism strategy.
Sanctions and designations can lead to diplomatic friction with regional partners where the political influence of these Brotherhood chapters remains significant.
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.) (INA), and the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) (IEEPA), it is hereby ordered:
The President asserts executive authority based on the Constitution and specific federal laws: the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), which deals with immigration and terrorism designations, and the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), which allows the President to regulate international commerce during national emergencies.
Section 1. Purpose. This order sets in motion a process by which certain chapters or other subdivisions of the Muslim Brotherhood shall be considered for designation as Foreign Terrorist Organizations, consistent with section 219 of the INA (8 U.S.C. 1189) and specially designated global terrorists, consistent with IEEPA (50 U.S.C. 1702), and Executive Order 13224 of September 23, 2001 (Blocking Property and Prohibiting Transactions with Persons Who Commit, Threaten to Commit, or Support Terrorism), as amended.
The primary goal of this order is to begin the formal process of labeling specific elements of the Muslim Brotherhood as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) under the INA and as Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs) under IEEPA and an existing 2001 Executive Order.
This consideration targets groups that support terrorism.
The Muslim Brotherhood, founded in Egypt in 1928, has developed into a transnational network with chapters across the Middle East and beyond. Relevant here, its chapters in Lebanon, Jordan, and Egypt engage in or facilitate and support violence and destabilization campaigns that harm their own regions, United States citizens, and United States interests. For example, in the aftermath of the October 7, 2023, attack in Israel, the military wing of the Lebanese chapter of the Muslim Brotherhood joined Hamas, Hezbollah, and Palestinian factions to launch multiple rocket attacks against both civilian and military targets within Israel. A senior leader of the Egyptian chapter of the Muslim Brotherhood, on October 7, 2023, called for violent attacks against United States partners and interests, and Jordanian Muslim Brotherhood leaders have long provided material support to the militant wing of Hamas. Such activities threaten the security of American civilians in the Levant and other parts of the Middle East, as well as the safety and stability of our regional partners.
This section provides the rationale, noting that the Muslim Brotherhood is a vast network whose chapters in Lebanon, Jordan, and Egypt actively support violent and destabilizing actions.
Specific examples include the Lebanese chapter supporting rocket attacks after October 7, 2023, an Egyptian leader calling for attacks on U.S. partners, and Jordanian leaders materially supporting Hamas.
These activities are cited as direct threats to U.S. personnel and regional stability.
Sec. 2. Policy. It is the policy of the United States to cooperate with its regional partners to eliminate the capabilities and operations of Muslim Brotherhood chapters designated as foreign terrorist organizations pursuant to section 3 of this order, deprive those chapters of resources, and thereby end any threat such chapters pose to United States nationals or the national security of the United States.
The declared policy of the U.S. government is to partner with regional allies to dismantle the operations and financial resources of any Muslim Brotherhood chapters officially designated under this order.
The ultimate goal is to remove any threat these groups present to American security.
Sec. 3. Implementation. (a) Within 30 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of State and the Secretary of the Treasury, after consultation with the Attorney General and the Director of National Intelligence, shall submit a joint report to the President, through the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, concerning the designation of any Muslim Brotherhood chapters or other subdivisions, including those in Lebanon, Jordan, and Egypt, as foreign terrorist organizations consistent with 8 U.S.C. 1189, and specially designated global terrorists consistent with 50 U.S.C. 1702 and Executive Order 13224.
Implementation requires the Secretary of State and Secretary of the Treasury to produce a joint report for the President within 30 days.
This report, compiled after consulting the Attorney General and the Director of National Intelligence, must detail the findings regarding the designation of specific Muslim Brotherhood subdivisions in Lebanon, Jordan, and Egypt as FTOs or SDGTs.
(b) Within 45 days of submitting the report required by subsection (a) of this section, the Secretary of State or the Secretary of the Treasury, as applicable, shall take all appropriate action consistent with 8 U.S.C. 1189 or 50 U.S.C. 1702 and Executive Order 13224, as applicable, with regard to the designation of any Muslim Brotherhood chapters or other subdivisions described in section 1 of this order as foreign terrorist organizations and specially designated global terrorists.
Forty-five days after submitting the required report, the Secretary of State or the Secretary of the Treasury must execute all necessary legal steps to officially designate the identified Muslim Brotherhood chapters as Foreign Terrorist Organizations and Specially Designated Global Terrorists, following the procedures outlined in the relevant statutes and prior Executive Orders.
Sec. 4. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:
(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or
(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
This section establishes general rules for interpreting the order.
It clarifies that the order does not override existing legal authorities granted to executive departments, agencies, or their leaders.
Furthermore, it preserves the powers of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget concerning budget, administration, and legislative planning.
(b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
The execution of this order must comply with all existing legal requirements and depend on Congress allocating the necessary funds.
(c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
This provision specifies that the order is not intended to grant any enforceable legal rights or process benefits to any individual or entity when acting against the U.S. government or its personnel.
(d) The costs for publication of this order shall be borne by the Department of State.
The Department of State is responsible for covering the administrative costs associated with officially publishing this Presidential Action.
DONALD J. TRUMP
THE WHITE HOUSE,
November 24, 2025. The post Designation of Certain Muslim Brotherhood Chapters as Foreign Terrorist Organizations and Specially Designated Global Terrorists appeared first on The White House.
This final part shows the document was signed by Donald J. Trump on November 24, 2025, and includes publication metadata indicating the title of the action and its original source on The White House website.