Texas Senator Ted Cruz is introducing a new bill that aims to officially label the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization. The Muslim Brotherhood Terrorist Designation Act of 2025 will be presented in the Senate on Tuesday. This bill is a fresh attempt in a series of efforts to designate the group as a terrorist organization, and it takes a different approach than previous attempts.
Cruz’s bill emphasizes a “bottom-up” strategy. His office explained that earlier efforts failed because not all branches of the Muslim Brotherhood are violent, which meant they did not qualify for designation. However, countries like Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and the United Arab Emirates have already classified the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization.
The proposed legislation calls on Secretary of State Marco Rubio to create a list of Muslim Brotherhood branches that are recognized as terrorist groups. It also requires the designation of the global Muslim Brotherhood for its support of these groups. This method is similar to what former President Donald Trump did in 2017 when he designated Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a foreign terrorist organization.
Support for Cruz’s initiative comes from several Republican senators, including John Boozman and Tom Cotton from Arkansas, Ashley Moody and Rick Scott from Florida, and Dave McCormick from Pennsylvania. Arab allies in the Middle East are also reportedly supportive. One official mentioned that countries that have already designated the Muslim Brotherhood would appreciate the U.S. taking similar action.
The bill outlines three ways to classify the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization: through congressional action under the 1987 Anti-Terrorism Act, by having the State Department recognize it as a terrorist organization, and by designating it as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT).
Once the bill is passed, Secretary Rubio would have 90 days to report to Congress on all identified Muslim Brotherhood branches worldwide. The legislation would then establish a formal designation for the global Muslim Brotherhood under the 1987 Anti-Terrorism Act. This would impose a primary embargo, preventing Americans from engaging in financial transactions with the group.
In recent developments, Jordan banned the Muslim Brotherhood from its territory. The group has a controversial history, including its connection to Hamas, which it considers a part of its organization. The Muslim Brotherhood was also involved in the assassination of Egyptian President Anwar Sadat in 1981 for his peace agreement with Israel.
Supporters of the bill argue that the Muslim Brotherhood aims to create a theocratic empire and that its influence poses a threat to American interests. The group, founded in Egypt in 1928, has expanded to have chapters in 80 countries and has expressed intentions that many view as hostile towards the U.S.
