On August 5, 2026, Senior Fellow Lara Burns testified before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on Federal Courts, Oversight, Agency Action, and Federal Rights during the hearing, Hidden in Plain Sight: Confronting the Muslim Brotherhood Network in America.
Ms. Burns' testimony outlines how support infrastructure for Islamist terrorism has operated within the United States for decades. These networks provide financial, propaganda, and organizational support, often operating under the guise of charitable, advocacy, or activist organizations. The 2008 trial and conviction of the Holy Land Foundation (HLF) and its officials exposed a broader, long-running network in the US tied to Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood. Elements within this network have evolved and rebranded.
For decades, narratives have been introduced into public discourse that characterize certain terrorist organizations as legitimate resistance movements, contextualize or justify acts of political violence, and discourage critical scrutiny through social and normative pressures. These narratives have appeared across a range of settings, including university campuses, activist organizations, and social media platforms, where slogans and rhetorical frameworks that were once confined to more marginal spaces have gained broader visibility and acceptance. Within these contexts, individuals who express concerns or offer critical perspectives are, in some cases, characterized as prejudiced, intolerant, or extremist, contributing to a climate in which open debate may be constrained.
The history of this network is well documented and not in dispute. Although it has been publicly known for decades, it has received relatively little attention. The time has come to examine the historical record carefully and engage with the available evidence. Against this backdrop, the Program on Extremism is drawing on more than a decade of experience at the federal level to strengthen efforts at the state and local levels, providing leaders with the tools, expertise, and insights needed to navigate an increasingly complex threat environment. While this work demands significant resources and sustained commitment, continued support is critical to expanding the Program’s capacity and delivering measurable results in identifying, understanding, and countering malign actors.
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