Senator John Cornyn, R-Texas, is swinging a legislative hammer at the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) with a bill to strip its tax-exempt status.
This bold move comes on the heels of Texas and Florida branding CAIR and the Muslim Brotherhood as terrorist organizations, with Cornyn’s legislation aiming to cut off tax breaks for any group accused of supporting terror activities, Fox News reported.
Earlier this year, both Texas and Florida took a hardline stance, officially designating CAIR and the Muslim Brotherhood as terrorist entities.
Now, Cornyn’s proposed law would expand existing rules—currently, tax-exempt status is yanked only for groups labeled as terrorist organizations by the State Department.
His bill goes further, targeting outfits that provide material support like money or training to such groups, putting CAIR in the same conversation as Hamas or Hezbollah.
Cornyn isn’t mincing words, stating, “Because no organization that bankrolls terrorists should get a tax break, period.” (Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas)
Let’s unpack that—Texas Gov. Greg Abbott recently issued an executive order blocking CAIR and the Muslim Brotherhood from snapping up property in the Lone Star State.
Abbott’s proclamation didn’t hold back, claiming CAIR has a track record of cozying up to individuals tied to terrorism, even citing the FBI’s view of CAIR as a “front group” for Hamas.
Over in Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis has directed state agencies to clamp down on CAIR’s activities, denying resources to anyone offering material support to questionable causes.
Despite the heat, CAIR maintains it’s got no ties to the Muslim Brotherhood, an entity linked to federally designated terror groups like Hamas.
Interestingly, neither CAIR nor the Muslim Brotherhood carries a federal terrorist designation from the State Department, which keeps this debate in murky waters.
CAIR’s spokesperson, Edward Ahmed Mitchell, fired back, saying, “Our civil rights organization is an independent, duly registered and legally compliant American 501(c)3 nonprofit that has spent over 30 years advocating for religious freedom, free speech and justice for all people.” (Edward Ahmed Mitchell, CAIR spokesperson)
Mitchell’s defense sounds noble, but let’s be real—when state leaders and a U.S. senator are this aligned on curbing an organization’s influence, there’s likely more than just political posturing at play.
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump recently ordered top officials to investigate whether specific Muslim Brotherhood chapters abroad warrant federal terrorist labels, signaling this issue might escalate further.
Cornyn’s bill, paired with actions in Texas and Florida, reflects a growing conservative push to rethink how we handle groups accused of flirting with dangerous ideologies—tax breaks shouldn’t be a reward for playing both sides of the fence.
