The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is investigating the Council on American Islamic Relations-California (CAIR-CA) in response to a request made by a congressional delegation led by outgoing U.S. Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas.
Background
In April, the delegation called on HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to suspend funding for CAIR-CA and its affiliates and initiate debarment proceedings. This was done after a Department of Justice investigation was launched more than a year ago into alleged misuse of federal funds related to Afghan refugees.
According to the delegation, CAIR’s ties to terrorist organizations, including Hamas – a U.S.-designated Foreign Terrorist Organization – combined with documented financial mismanagement and misuse of federal grant funds administered by HHS, pose a grave risk to national security and render CAIR unfit to receive taxpayer dollars.
Investigation
The DOJ investigation was launched in response to a March 2025 Intelligent Advocacy Network complaint filed with the DOJ, urging it to investigate CAIR-CA’s alleged misuse of federal funds and EOIR accreditation violations. The complaint questions millions of dollars CAIR-CA received from the federal government, including for an Afghan Legal Services Project, and alleges accreditation violations and ties to Islamic terrorism.
HHS Assistant Secretary Gustav Chiarello contacted California Gov. Gavin Newsom requesting cooperation and reiterated that HHS has the legal authority to suspend or debar recipients of federal grant funds from participating in federal welfare programs if violations are confirmed.
The California Department of Social Services has sub-granted more than $27 million in HHS-originated funds to CAIR-CA for Afghan refugee and entrant assistance programs. Congressman Chip Roy and other members of Congress have informed HHS that there may be connections between CAIR and the Muslim Brotherhood and its Palestinian branch, Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist organization.
Response
CAIR has refuted the allegations, having earlier this year sent a letter to a U.S. Senate subcommittee about its work with Afghan refugees. CAIR also maintains that the Intelligent Advocacy Network is an apparent front group for the Israeli lobby whose primary purpose appears to be smearing critics of the Israeli government.
A group of 119 U.S. House and Senate Democrats have rebuked the Sharia-Free America Caucus, led by U.S. Rep. James Clyburn, D-SC, and U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-MD, stating that the caucus reflects longstanding Islamophobic narratives and anti-Muslim sentiment rather than any demonstrated policy need.
Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.
