The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), in coordination with the Department of State, has designated the Egyptian and Jordanian branches of the Muslim Brotherhood as Specially Designated Global Terrorists. This action is part of a broader effort to address concerns over the group’s support for terrorist organizations such as Hamas.
“The Treasury Department is taking action pursuant to President Trump’s leadership by designating Muslim Brotherhood Branches as Terrorist Organizations,” said Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent. “The Muslim Brotherhood has a longstanding record of perpetrating acts of terror, and we are working aggressively to cut them off from the financial system. This Administration will deploy the full scope of its authorities to disrupt, dismantle, and defeat terrorist networks wherever they operate in order to keep Americans safe.”
Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence John K. Hurley added, “The Muslim Brotherhood has inspired, nurtured, and funded terrorist groups like Hamas, that are direct threats to the safety and security of the American people and our allies. Despite their peaceful public façade, both the Egyptian and Jordanian Muslim Brotherhood branches have conspired to support Hamas’s terrorism and undermine the sovereignty of their own national governments. This Administration will use all tools at our disposal to hold them accountable for the violence they have encouraged across the Middle East and the world in pursuit of their extreme version of Islam.”
The Department of State also announced it is designating the Lebanese Muslim Brotherhood (al-Jamaa al-Islamiyah) as a Foreign Terrorist Organization under section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act and as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist under Executive Order 13224. Additionally, Muhammad Fawzi Taqqosh, Secretary General of Lebanon’s branch, was named a Specially Designated Global Terrorist.
According to U.S. officials, these measures respond to ongoing support from various Muslim Brotherhood chapters for groups such as Hamas. Although some factions claim non-violence, authorities cite evidence that both Egyptian and Jordanian branches continue activities that incite or promote terrorism against U.S. interests and allies.
Recent intelligence indicates that since 2025, cooperation between Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood (EMB) and Hamas included planning potential attacks against Israeli targets in the Middle East. EMB members reportedly helped move fighters into Gaza after coordinating travel through Egypt; communications kept Hamas updated on arrivals. In 2023, an individual linked to Saudi Arabia’s MB branch raised funds for Hamas before returning to Egypt.
In Jordan, elements associated with its dissolved Muslim Brotherhood have faced terrorism charges since early 2025. Activities include manufacturing weapons such as rockets or drones and recruiting operatives with financial backing from abroad via illegal means.
These sanctions mean that any property or interests belonging to designated persons within U.S. jurisdiction are blocked; transactions involving these assets by U.S. individuals are prohibited unless authorized by OFAC licenses or exemptions. Entities owned at least 50 percent by sanctioned individuals are similarly affected.
Violations may result in civil or criminal penalties under OFAC rules—even without intent—according to its Economic Sanctions Enforcement Guidelines (https://ofac.treasury.gov/compliance-civil-penalties-and-enforcement/economic-sanctions-enforcement-guidelines). Foreign financial institutions knowingly facilitating significant transactions with those sanctioned risk secondary sanctions themselves.
OFAC emphasizes its readiness not only to add names but also remove them from sanction lists when appropriate legal conditions are met; guidance on removal petitions is available through OFAC resources (https://ofac.treasury.gov/faqs/topic/1551).
For further details on today’s designations or blocked property information: https://ofac.treasury.gov/recent-actions
