Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has issued an executive order designating the Muslim Brotherhood and the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) as foreign terrorist organizations. 

The directive, effective immediately, instructs state law enforcement and agencies to “undertake all lawful measures to prevent unlawful activities” linked to the two groups .

The order prohibits any contracts, employment, funding, or privileges from the state to individuals or entities found to have provided material support to CAIR or the Muslim Brotherhood. It also directs Florida’s Domestic Security Oversight Council to review existing laws and policies and recommend measures to counter what the governor described as “terrorist threats” .

CAIR, the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, vowed to challenge the designation in court, calling it unconstitutional and politically motivated. The group argued that the move punishes it for its views and advocacy for Muslim communities .

Florida’s decision follows a similar executive order issued last month by Texas Governor Greg Abbott, intensifying debate over the legal and political implications of labeling prominent Muslim organizations as terrorist groups in the United States.