The bill would compel the President to designate the Muslim Brotherhood as a foreign terrorist organization. It expands existing law to treat the Muslim Brotherhood and its branches as terrorist entities and to require annual reporting to Congress on branches and grounds for designation.
The measure also imposes immigration-related restrictions on MB members and establishes a framework for sanctions against MB and its branches, with a phased implementation timeline tied to findings in annual secretary-of-state reports.
At a Glance
What It Does
The President must designate the Muslim Brotherhood as an FTO, authorize sanctions against MB and its branches, and require annual reporting by the Secretary of State to Congress identifying MB branches and designation grounds.
Who It Affects
MB members and branches worldwide, U.S. and foreign banks and financial institutions for sanctions compliance, immigration authorities for visa actions, and the relevant congressional committees.
Why It Matters
This bill elevates MB to FTO status across related legal authorities, expands the tools available to identify and sanction branches, and ties U.S. policy toward MB to regular congressional oversight.
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What This Bill Actually Does
The bill seeks to designate the Muslim Brotherhood as a foreign terrorist organization and to treat it and its branches as terrorist entities under U.S. law. It expands the Anti-Terrorism Act of 1987 by adding MB and related networks to the list of organizations that trigger prohibitions and sanctions.
The measure also requires the Secretary of State to produce an annual report to Congress detailing MB branches, and it imposes immigration-related consequences for MB members, including mandatory visa ineligibility and potential visa revocation. Finally, it creates a framework for sanctioning MB branches under the laws used to designate terrorists and to block property associated with such organizations.
The overall aim is to provide clearer authorities, reporting obligations, and enforcement tools to counter MB-linked activities in the United States and abroad.
The Five Things You Need to Know
The President is required to designate the Muslim Brotherhood as a foreign terrorist organization under INA 219(a).
The bill expands sanctions to MB branches, with FTO designation and EO 13224-based penalties available.
MB members face mandatory visa ineligibility and potential visa revocation under Levinson Act authorities.
The Secretary of State must annually report on MB branches and designation grounds to Congress.
Definitions broaden MB scope to include Hamas as a branch and specify operating jurisdictions.
Section-by-Section Breakdown
Every bill we cover gets an analysis of its key sections.
Short title and purpose
This section designates the act as the Muslim Brotherhood Terrorist Designation Act of 2025 and sets the stage for the subsequent amendments and designations. It positions MB within U.S. terrorism designation authorities and aligns the bill with existing counterterrorism frameworks.
Prohibitions on Muslim Brotherhood operations in the United States
This section amends the Anti-Terrorism Act of 1987 to add the Muslim Brotherhood and its branches as terrorist entities. It changes several references in existing prohibitions to include MB and its affiliates, broadening the scope of prohibitions related to the organization, its branches, and their operations, both domestically and internationally.
Immigration restrictions for MB members
This subsection adds mandatory visa ineligibility for Muslim Brotherhood members and requires the immediate revocation of current MB-related visas in line with authorities granting the Secretary of State power to restrict entry and stay for designated individuals.
Definitions of MB, MB branch, and related terms
This part defines key terms such as ‘Muslim Brotherhood,’ ‘Muslim Brotherhood branch,’ and ‘Muslim Brotherhood member,’ and enumerates the jurisdictions where MB branches may operate, providing the geographic scope for the designation and sanctions.
Designation of MB entities as foreign terrorist organizations; reporting
This section mandates the designation of MB entities as FTOs and requires an annual report to Congress identifying MB branches and evaluating designation grounds, including whether branches meet criteria for designation under INA or EO 13224. It also outlines the sanctions applicable to MB branches and conditions for maintaining sanctions over time.
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Every bill creates winners and losers. Here's who stands to gain and who bears the cost.
Who Benefits
- Secretary of State and relevant U.S. government agencies responsible for terrorism designations and sanctions, enabling clearer authorities and enforcement
Who Bears the Cost
- U.S. financial institutions for compliance with expanded sanctions regimes
- Immigration authorities and consulates implementing visa prohibitions and revocations
- MB members and MB-affiliated entities facing designation and asset-blocking measures
- Congressional committees receiving annual reporting and oversight burden
Key Issues
The Core Tension
The central dilemma is balancing a robust counterterrorism posture with the risk of collateral consequences for legitimate civil society and international partners, and ensuring that designation grounds are precise and based on credible evidence to withstand legal and diplomatic challenges.
The bill creates a unified framework to designate and sanction the Muslim Brotherhood and its branches, but it raises questions about how branches are identified abroad and the potential for overbroad or unintended impacts on legitimate civic and charitable activities that may be connected to MB affiliates. The annual reporting requirement improves transparency, yet it also transfers ongoing monitoring responsibilities to the State Department and Congress, which may lead to scrutiny and politically charged interpretation of branch activities.
Implementation hinges on clear, reliable evidence to support designations and on the alignment of sanctions with international partners to avoid adverse economic or diplomatic spillovers.
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