HHS sent letters raising concerns about CAIR's alleged connections to the Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas.
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The Department of Health and Human Services is investigating the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) after allegations that the organization and its state affiliates received millions in federal funds despite longstanding claims linking it to Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood.
The review follows calls from congressional Republicans to suspend CAIR from federal programs and comes as federal officials examine roughly $30 million in refugee resettlement funds distributed to CAIR affiliates in California and Washington amid concerns about grant compliance and alleged ties to terrorist organizations.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced the review in a post on X. "HHS has requested a review of allegations involving @CAIRNational and its affiliates @CAIRCalifornia and @CAIRWashington regarding the use of federal grant funds. Americans deserve full transparency when taxpayer dollars are involved. If there is evidence of fraud, abuse, or ties to designated terrorist organizations, we will act.”
He added, "I have shared these concerns with @SecRubio and encouraged a full @StateDept review of any information relevant to this matter. "Accountability is not optional. Protecting the integrity of federal programs is our responsibility."
The announcement follows reporting by the New York Post that HHS is investigating what happened to approximately $30 million in federal refugee resettlement funds sent to CAIR affiliates in California and Washington. According to the Post, HHS sent letters to California Governor Gavin Newsom and Washington Governor Bob Ferguson stating that it had received information raising concerns about CAIR's business practices and alleged connections to the Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas. The agency warned that if the allegations are substantiated, the organization could face suspension and debarment from federal programs.
The development comes after a group of Republican lawmakers urged Kennedy to suspend and debar CAIR and its affiliates from receiving federal funds, citing alleged ties to Hamas and concerns over federal grant compliance. The lawmakers argued that CAIR's "deep and enduring connections to the Muslim Brotherhood and its Palestinian branch, Hamas" make the organization unfit to receive taxpayer dollars.
According to the congressional letter, CAIR and its California affiliate have received millions in federal refugee assistance funds, including more than $15 million through California programs intended to provide legal services to Afghan refugees. The lawmakers alleged that audits and public records raised questions about how the money was spent and whether grant requirements were properly followed.
The organization has faced decades of scrutiny. CAIR was identified by the Justice Department's Office of the Inspector General as an unindicted co-conspirator in the Holy Land Foundation terrorism-financing case, the largest terrorism-financing prosecution in US history. Federal prosecutors argued that the Holy Land Foundation operated as part of a Hamas support network in the United States, and court records found "ample evidence" connecting CAIR to Hamas, though the organization itself was never criminally charged.
CAIR's founders, including current executive director Nihad Awad, were members of the Muslim Brotherhood's Palestine Committee, which investigators described as a support network for Hamas in North America.
The organization has faced renewed controversy since Hamas' October 7, 2023, terrorist attack on Israel. Awad sparked widespread condemnation after saying he was "happy to see" Palestinians "breaking the siege and throwing down the shackles of their own land," remarks made in reference to the attacks that killed 1,200 people and resulted in more than 240 hostages being taken. The comments ultimately led the Biden administration to remove CAIR from its White House antisemitism task force.
Other CAIR leaders have generated controversy over statements made after October 7. CAIR-San Francisco Executive Director Zahra Billoo posted, "We are witnessing decolonization" on the day of the attacks and later referred to slain Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh as a "martyr." CAIR-California CEO Hussam Ayloush compared Israel to Nazi Germany and stated that "Israel should be attacked."
A recent City Journal investigation reported that California directed at least $41 million to CAIR-California over the past five years, including $7.2 million for Afghan refugee legal services and another $23 million approved in 2025. The report also alleged that CAIR-California distributed millions in taxpayer-funded grants to organizations linked to Islamist movements.
The scrutiny has also reached Washington state. According to The New York Post, HHS traced approximately $1.3 million in federal refugee assistance funding that was allocated to CAIR-Washington through the Washington Department of Social and Health Services. The agency's letter to Ferguson stated that HHS had received information raising concerns about CAIR's alleged ties to the Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas and warned that ongoing reviews could result in suspension or debarment from federal programs if the allegations are substantiated.
The development places renewed attention on CAIR-WA Executive Director Imraan Siddiqi, who recently received the endorsement of anti-Israel "Squad" member Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) in his campaign for the Washington State House. Siddiqi has repeatedly accused Israel of committing "genocide," called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a "war criminal," and sparked backlash after telling Democrats condemning Hamas' October 7 terrorist attacks to "STFU." CAIR-WA has also opposed efforts to classify the slogan "from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free" as antisemitic in Washington state school materials despite the phrase's documented use by Hamas as a call for Israel's elimination.
Ferguson sued the Trump administration on CAIR's behalf over the administration's travel ban targeting several terror-linked countries. More recently, CAIR was revealed to be participating in King County's Human and Civil Rights Commission alongside activist groups discussing ICE enforcement, immigration policy, and refugee issues. The commission's inaugural report showed CAIR representatives participating in meetings concerning local ICE activity and challenges facing organizations serving immigrant communities. Ferguson has not publicly commented on the HHS review.
Republican lawmakers have increasingly called for federal action against CAIR.
Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) has urged investigations into the organization's nonprofit status and funding sources, while Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) and others have pressed federal agencies to determine whether CAIR receives support from foreign terrorist organizations.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott designated CAIR and the Muslim Brotherhood as foreign terrorist organizations under Texas law in 2025. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis later took similar action. Earlier this year, Abbott announced that a federal court granted his request seeking donor records, donation lists, and travel records connected to Awad's visits to countries hosting Islamic terrorist groups.
Last year, CAIR also reportedly settled litigation with a former employee rather than disclose records concerning alleged foreign funding sources.
The review follows calls from congressional Republicans to suspend CAIR from federal programs and comes as federal officials examine roughly $30 million in refugee resettlement funds distributed to CAIR affiliates in California and Washington amid concerns about grant compliance and alleged ties to terrorist organizations.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced the review in a post on X. "HHS has requested a review of allegations involving @CAIRNational and its affiliates @CAIRCalifornia and @CAIRWashington regarding the use of federal grant funds. Americans deserve full transparency when taxpayer dollars are involved. If there is evidence of fraud, abuse, or ties to designated terrorist organizations, we will act.”
He added, "I have shared these concerns with @SecRubio and encouraged a full @StateDept review of any information relevant to this matter. "Accountability is not optional. Protecting the integrity of federal programs is our responsibility."
The announcement follows reporting by the New York Post that HHS is investigating what happened to approximately $30 million in federal refugee resettlement funds sent to CAIR affiliates in California and Washington. According to the Post, HHS sent letters to California Governor Gavin Newsom and Washington Governor Bob Ferguson stating that it had received information raising concerns about CAIR's business practices and alleged connections to the Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas. The agency warned that if the allegations are substantiated, the organization could face suspension and debarment from federal programs.
The development comes after a group of Republican lawmakers urged Kennedy to suspend and debar CAIR and its affiliates from receiving federal funds, citing alleged ties to Hamas and concerns over federal grant compliance. The lawmakers argued that CAIR's "deep and enduring connections to the Muslim Brotherhood and its Palestinian branch, Hamas" make the organization unfit to receive taxpayer dollars.
According to the congressional letter, CAIR and its California affiliate have received millions in federal refugee assistance funds, including more than $15 million through California programs intended to provide legal services to Afghan refugees. The lawmakers alleged that audits and public records raised questions about how the money was spent and whether grant requirements were properly followed.
The organization has faced decades of scrutiny. CAIR was identified by the Justice Department's Office of the Inspector General as an unindicted co-conspirator in the Holy Land Foundation terrorism-financing case, the largest terrorism-financing prosecution in US history. Federal prosecutors argued that the Holy Land Foundation operated as part of a Hamas support network in the United States, and court records found "ample evidence" connecting CAIR to Hamas, though the organization itself was never criminally charged.
CAIR's founders, including current executive director Nihad Awad, were members of the Muslim Brotherhood's Palestine Committee, which investigators described as a support network for Hamas in North America.
The organization has faced renewed controversy since Hamas' October 7, 2023, terrorist attack on Israel. Awad sparked widespread condemnation after saying he was "happy to see" Palestinians "breaking the siege and throwing down the shackles of their own land," remarks made in reference to the attacks that killed 1,200 people and resulted in more than 240 hostages being taken. The comments ultimately led the Biden administration to remove CAIR from its White House antisemitism task force.
Other CAIR leaders have generated controversy over statements made after October 7. CAIR-San Francisco Executive Director Zahra Billoo posted, "We are witnessing decolonization" on the day of the attacks and later referred to slain Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh as a "martyr." CAIR-California CEO Hussam Ayloush compared Israel to Nazi Germany and stated that "Israel should be attacked."
A recent City Journal investigation reported that California directed at least $41 million to CAIR-California over the past five years, including $7.2 million for Afghan refugee legal services and another $23 million approved in 2025. The report also alleged that CAIR-California distributed millions in taxpayer-funded grants to organizations linked to Islamist movements.
The scrutiny has also reached Washington state. According to The New York Post, HHS traced approximately $1.3 million in federal refugee assistance funding that was allocated to CAIR-Washington through the Washington Department of Social and Health Services. The agency's letter to Ferguson stated that HHS had received information raising concerns about CAIR's alleged ties to the Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas and warned that ongoing reviews could result in suspension or debarment from federal programs if the allegations are substantiated.
The development places renewed attention on CAIR-WA Executive Director Imraan Siddiqi, who recently received the endorsement of anti-Israel "Squad" member Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) in his campaign for the Washington State House. Siddiqi has repeatedly accused Israel of committing "genocide," called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a "war criminal," and sparked backlash after telling Democrats condemning Hamas' October 7 terrorist attacks to "STFU." CAIR-WA has also opposed efforts to classify the slogan "from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free" as antisemitic in Washington state school materials despite the phrase's documented use by Hamas as a call for Israel's elimination.
Ferguson sued the Trump administration on CAIR's behalf over the administration's travel ban targeting several terror-linked countries. More recently, CAIR was revealed to be participating in King County's Human and Civil Rights Commission alongside activist groups discussing ICE enforcement, immigration policy, and refugee issues. The commission's inaugural report showed CAIR representatives participating in meetings concerning local ICE activity and challenges facing organizations serving immigrant communities. Ferguson has not publicly commented on the HHS review.
Republican lawmakers have increasingly called for federal action against CAIR.
Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) has urged investigations into the organization's nonprofit status and funding sources, while Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) and others have pressed federal agencies to determine whether CAIR receives support from foreign terrorist organizations.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott designated CAIR and the Muslim Brotherhood as foreign terrorist organizations under Texas law in 2025. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis later took similar action. Earlier this year, Abbott announced that a federal court granted his request seeking donor records, donation lists, and travel records connected to Awad's visits to countries hosting Islamic terrorist groups.
Last year, CAIR also reportedly settled litigation with a former employee rather than disclose records concerning alleged foreign funding sources.
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