In July, the Middle East Forum released a report claiming that the Department of Homeland Security had approved $25 million between 2013 and 2023 to groups with “documented links to foreign terrorist organizations.” Within a month, DHS moved to cancel and review grants made out to those groups.
DHS documents, first reported on by Fox News Digital, indicate the agency has cut $8 million worth of grants, with one official saying that, although the agency is conducting an independent review, it took the report from the Middle East Forum “very seriously.” The Middle East Forum’s report highlighted DHS grants provided to organizations such as the Dar al-Hijrah Islamic Center, which DHS’s internal document flagged as linked to Hamas and terrorist financiers, and the Islamic Center of America, whose congregants regularly express support for Hezbollah.
The bulk of the grants awarded to what the Middle East Forum described as “terror-linked and extremist groups” was disbursed through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Nonprofit Security Grant Program, which is intended to provide religious organizations with resources to guard against hate-driven violence.
Other organizations that the Middle East Forum alleges have terror or extremist links and have received funding from DHS included the Al Furqaan Foundation, which received $1.6 million worth of Qurans from an an Al-Qaeda-linked charity, mosques tied to the Iranian government, the Islamic Center of San Diego, which was linked to the 9/11 terrorist attacks by a congressional inquiry, and mosques whose congregants regularly praise terrorists.
In addition to reviewing current and future contracts to cut off funding to groups with ties to terrorism or extremism, DHS is also exploring ways to retrieve unspent funds distributed to those organizations.
“Unlike under the Biden administration, the Department of Homeland Security and FEMA will no longer fund grant projects that have alleged affiliations with terrorist activities,” an agency spokesperson told the Washington Examiner. “Under the leadership of Secretary Noem, DHS and FEMA are conducting a comprehensive assessment of all grants to root out waste, fraud, and abuse. Unlike the previous administration, grants will no longer be used to empower radical organizations with questionable ties that don’t serve the interest of the American People.”
PRO-HAMAS ISLAMIC CLERIC HELD PRIVATE CEREMONY HONORING OMAR FATEH
The Council on American Islamic Relations, which DHS has accused of having “Hamas ties,” says it no longer has active contracts with DHS.
“While our civil rights organization has no active federal grants that the Department could eliminate or cut, and while the government cannot ban American organizations from receiving federal grants based on their religious affiliation or their criticism of Israel’s genocide in Gaza,” a CAIR spokesperson told Fox, “it’s important to note that Kristi Noem’s Department of Homeland Security is embarrassing President Trump by making decisions based on the ravings of the Middle East Forum, an Israel First hate website.”
