Republican Texas Governor Greg Abbott is calling on the Trump administration to strip the largest self-described Muslim civil rights non-profit organization in the United States of its tax-exempt status for its alleged ties to foreign terrorist organizations.
In a letter sent Tuesday to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Abbott requested an investigation into the Council on American-Islamic Relations’ tax-exempt status over alleged ties to Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood, which President Donald Trump has made moves to designate as a terrorist organization.
Last week, Trump signed an executive order paving the way for his administration to classify certain Muslim Brotherhood chapters as terrorist organizations. He said that “final documents are being drawn” for the designation to be “done in the strongest and most powerful terms.”
Abbott argued that CAIR has been identified by federal investigators and court filings as “a direct subsidiary of the Muslim Brotherhood” and as a “front group” for Hamas in the United States. Abbott emphasized that Hamas has been a U.S.-designated terrorist organization since 1997 and is the Muslim Brotherhood’s Gaza-based branch, which kidnapped and murdered American citizens during the October 7 attack in Israel.
Abbott also cited a recent report that claims CAIR awarded $1,000 cash grants to university students who disrupted classes and intimidated or harassed fellow students “while celebrating Hamas’ October 7th attack.”
“Americans have generous hearts, and federal law wisely creates incentives to donate to nonprofit organizations that promote the public good,” Abbott wrote. “But charity must not become a backdoor to sponsor terrorism, endanger Americans, and subvert our democracy.”
Under federal law, tax-exempt status must be suspended when a group is listed as a foreign terrorist organization, according to Abbott.
“Domestic organizations created by known terrorist organizations—for the express purpose of supporting and advancing their destructive goals—should clearly be suspended from the benefit of tax-exempt status as 501(c)(3) nonprofits in the United States,” Abbott wrote.
Last month, Abbott issued a proclamation designating the Muslim Brotherhood and CAIR as terrorist organizations in Texas, accusing them of seeking to “forcibly impose Sharia law.” Abbott’s order prohibits the groups from purchasing or acquiring property in Texas and subjects affiliates to enhanced state penalties.
“The actions taken by the Muslim Brotherhood and CAIR to support terrorism across the globe and subvert our laws through violence, intimidation, and harassment are unacceptable,” Abbott said at the time. “These radical extremists are not welcome in our state and are now prohibited from acquiring any real property interest in Texas.”
CAIR responded by suing Abbott and denying the allegations, claiming it has “consistently condemned all forms of unjust violence, including hate crimes, ethnic cleansing, genocide and terrorism.”
“Although we are flattered by Greg Abbott’s obsession with our civil rights organization, his publicity stunt masquerading as a proclamation has no basis in fact or law,” the group said. “By defaming a prominent American Muslim institution with debunked conspiracy theories and made-up quotes, Mr. Abbott has once again shown that his top priority is advancing anti-Muslim bigotry, not serving the people of Texas.”
CAIR did not respond to a request for comment.
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