DesigNAIT Act of 2026

What it does

• •Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to designate the North American Islamic Trust (NAIT) and its subsidiaries and affiliates as Specially Designated Global Terrorists.
• •Makes findings that NAIT is an Illinois nonprofit corporation founded in 1973 that holds title to real estate for over 400 Islamic institutions across 42 states with a market value of several hundred million dollars.
• •Documents alleged connections between NAIT leadership, institutions under NAIT's control, and designated terrorist organizations, including Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood.

Why it matters

• •A designation as Specially Designated Global Terrorists would freeze NAIT's assets, prohibit U.S. persons from transacting with it, and subject it to criminal and civil penalties.
• •The bill asserts that NAIT's waqf (Islamic endowment) structure allows properties to be perpetually dedicated to entities with alleged terrorist ties, and that NAIT lacks financial transparency compared to other religious endowments.
• •The bill cites court findings, terrorism financing prosecutions, and declassified FBI records to support its claim that NAIT has associations with Hamas, the Muslim Brotherhood, and individuals involved in terrorist attacks.

Who is affected

• •The North American Islamic Trust, its subsidiaries, affiliates, and the over 400 Islamic institutions and schools whose properties NAIT holds in trust.
• •U.S. persons and entities that currently conduct financial or business transactions with NAIT or its controlled properties.

What happens next

The bill was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs and awaits further congressional action.