Senator Ted Cruz, Republican of Texas, reportedly unveiled legislation on Tuesday seeking to designate the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization.
The bill—dubbed the Muslim Brotherhood Terrorist Designation Act of 2025—marks the most ambitious attempt yet by Congress to formally label the century-old Islamist movement a national security threat.
“Armed with bottom-up rigor,” Mr. Cruz said, the proposal directs the State Department to “catalog Muslim Brotherhood branches that are designated as terrorist groups and designate additional ones that meet relevant criteria”—creating a pathway for a global designation.
The senator argued that, though not all branches of the Brotherhood engage in violence, those that do should be identified and sanctioned, echoing precedents set by countries like Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
Supporters of the measure include Senators Tom Cotton of Arkansas, Rick Scott of Florida and Dave McCormick of Pennsylvania, all of whom have called for stringent action against what they describe as the ideological backbone of Hamas. “It’s time we join our Arab allies in formally recognizing the Muslim Brotherhood for what it truly is—a terrorist organization,” Mr. Cruz stated.
The legislation would authorize three distinct routes to designation: congressional action under the 1987 Anti-Terrorism Act; a formal finding by the State Department; and classification as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT).
If enacted, Americans would face prohibitions on financial transactions with the group, and the Brotherhood would fall under primary embargo restrictions.
Proponents argue the bill would align American policy with that of several Middle Eastern governments that consider the Brotherhood existential threats.
Analysts in Riyadh and Cairo praised the initiative, noting that the United States has lagged behind regional allies in recognizing what they describe as a transnational menace.
But critics caution that the designation could backfire, pointing out that the Brotherhood also has nonviolent political and charitable wings across the globe.
A group of national security experts contends that sweeping sanctions—absent nuanced distinction between violent and nonviolent branches—might drive moderate elements underground and complicate diplomatic relations.
The measure follows earlier bipartisan efforts, including a similar bill introduced in 2015, 2017 and 2020. Each attempt stalled in committee.
This time, Mr. Cruz says he has broader support and plans to push the measure alongside a companion bill in the House, sponsored by Representative Nancy Mace, Republican of South Carolina.
With global tensions on the rise and debates over Islamist movements intensifying, the bill poses both an ideological declaration and a geopolitical gamble.
Whether the proposal—erring toward regional alignment or risking unintended fracturing—will gain traction in Congress remains to be seen, but it signals the brazen extent to which some lawmakers are willing to reshape U.S. counterterrorism policy.
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