Executive Order 14362, signed on November 24, 2025, initiates a formal review process that could result in the designation of specific Muslim Brotherhood chapters—not the organization as a whole—as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) and Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs). The order targets "chapters or other subdivisions," with Lebanon, Jordan, and Egypt explicitly identified for consideration, preserving the administration's flexibility to act selectively by country and entity. As justification, the order cites alleged conduct following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack: the Lebanese chapter's military wing purportedly joined rocket attacks against Israeli targets, an Egyptian chapter leader allegedly called for violence against U.S. partners, and Jordanian Brotherhood leaders are said to have provided material support to Hamas's militant wing. These are the administration's stated rationales for initiating review—not conclusive legal determinations. Actual designations, and their full legal and diplomatic consequences, remain contingent on the structured agency review and subsequent action directed by the order. This nonetheless represents a significant escalation in U.S. counterterrorism policy, moving beyond prior designations of Brotherhood-affiliated groups like Hamas toward targeting national chapters directly.
The order invokes two primary legal authorities: Section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1189) for FTO designations and the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1702), alongside Executive Order 13224 of 2001, for SDGT designations. The policy domains affected span counterterrorism, international sanctions, immigration enforcement, and Middle East foreign policy. The order mandates a joint report to the President within 30 days, followed by formal designation actions within 45 days of that submission—meaning full implementation could occur within approximately 75 days of signing. The Secretary of State and Secretary of the Treasury bear primary responsibility, required to consult with the Attorney General and Director of National Intelligence before reporting through the National Security Advisor.
The order's stated policy objective extends beyond a narrow legal exercise: it commits the United States to working with regional partners to eliminate the capabilities and operations of any designated chapters, deprive them of resources, and end threats to U.S. nationals and national security. This language signals an operational and foreign-policy posture with implications for partner coordination and follow-on action. If designations are finalized, consequences would include asset freezes, financial transaction prohibitions, and immigration restrictions. The broader implications are substantial: civil society organizations, political parties, and humanitarian groups in Lebanon, Jordan, and Egypt with Brotherhood ties could be affected, potentially straining relationships with Jordan and Egypt—both critical U.S. regional partners. The selective, chapter-by-chapter approach somewhat limits immediate scope but does not diminish the diplomatic sensitivity of the underlying policy direction.