The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is taking steps to reassess federal security grants given to certain Muslim organizations with reported ties to terrorism. This review was prompted by findings from a recent report, which identified funding links to extremist groups and suggested that over $25 million in DHS and FEMA grants were distributed to such entities between 2013 and 2023.
According to a DHS document acquired by Fox News Digital, 49 projects connected to alleged terrorist activities have been canceled, resulting in an estimated savings of $8 million. These cuts primarily affect the funding provided through FEMA’s Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP), designed to assist faith-based institutions facing threats of violence. DHS officials have stated, “We take the results of the MEF report very seriously and are thankful for the work of conservative watchdog groups.”
The Middle East Forum, a conservative think tank, outlined several cases of concern, mentioning a previous $100,000 grant to the Dar al-Hijrah mosque in Virginia, which has been linked to Hamas operatives by Customs and Border Protection. In light of these findings, DHS is also conducting a thorough evaluation of current and future contracts to prevent funding from reaching questionable organizations.
For the upcoming fiscal year, DHS has already allocated significant funds, including $94 million for 500 Jewish organizations and $110 million for 600 faith-based institutions representing various religions. However, applicants for fiscal year 2025 will encounter stricter vetting procedures. A DHS official emphasized, “We don’t want to be empowering groups that could be causing a threat to our community here in the United States.”
The Middle East Forum’s report highlights specific recipients of grants that are said to have links to extremism. It mentions $10.3 million allocated to the Islamic Circle of North America, alleged to be connected to the South Asian Islamist movement Jamaat-e-Islami. The report also notes grants to the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR), which has faced accusations from DHS regarding ties to Hamas.
While CAIR maintains it has no active federal contracts with DHS, it has called for organizations to withdraw from applying for DHS grants unless the agency abandons controversial new vetting rules. These rules require grant recipients to cooperate with immigration officials and limit their involvement in programs related to diversity, equity, and aid to undocumented immigrants. Such stipulations raise concerns about restrictions on funding based on religious or political affiliations.
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