Governor says Florida will use new law to designate Muslim Brotherhood, CAIR, Antifa, cartels and IRGC as domestic terrorist organizations

The governor announced that, under a statute that took effect July 1, Florida will move quickly to designate a first round of organizations as domestic terrorist organizations and will seek cabinet ratification of those designations.

The governor said the initial list will reaffirm prior executive-order targets — the Muslim Brotherhood and the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) — and "we will also be adding and ratifying Antifa as a domestic terrorist organization, as well as a number of groups affiliated with drug cartels," naming the Cartel de Sinaloa and Tren de Aragua, and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

Why it matters: The governor said the designations will affect where state and local governments — and some state-administered programs — can send money. "We obviously are not going to be funding any type of organization directly or directly if they have those links," he said, and added the measure is aimed at cutting financial support and other material assistance.

Brad McVey, the statewide prosecutor, spoke for the Attorney General's Office and said it supports the initiative and will work with law enforcement under the new statutory framework. He described the office's mission as prosecuting criminal activity "to the fullest extent that the law allows," and pledged cooperation with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

Mark Glass, commissioner of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), described the law as "another tool in the toolbox" for domestic security. Glass said the statutory process will provide public notice of designated organizations so state and local actors can check whether recipients of funds are on the list before providing support.

Process and legal risk: The governor emphasized the statute requires cabinet ratification and said the administration is prepared to convene an emergency cabinet call to ratify the initial recommendations. He also acknowledged lawsuits are likely: "I'm sure. I mean like this is seven and a half years—whatever we do, they go to Tallahassee, they try, they file suit," the governor said, but he added that a statutory scheme is "even stronger" than an executive order for defending designations in court.

On prosecutions: Reporters asked whether indictments or arrests can be made immediately. The governor said criminal prosecutions of individuals require proof beyond a reasonable doubt and that designations primarily allow the state to stop funding and contractual relationships that materially support violent activity; they do not substitute for individual criminal charges.

Claims and evidence cited: The governor pointed to prior federal litigation and said CAIR was identified in the record of the Holy Land Foundation conspiracy trial. He argued the approach focuses on "material support" and financing ties: "If that money shuts down, it's a lot harder to do," he said.

What is next: No cabinet vote occurred at the press conference. The governor said his office, FDLE and the Attorney General's Office will prepare recommendations for the cabinet, which must ratify the designations before they take effect for state funding purposes. The governor also said legal challenges are expected and defense of the designations would proceed through state and federal courts.

The press availability concluded after reporters asked follow-up questions about investigations, challenges and whether the state would try to close offices. The governor said the state will first assess relationships to state and local programs and funding before attempting to cut ties or take further administrative steps.