Federal Government Watch 
   - from the Sharia TipSheet

Federal Government Watch 
Trump Administration Still Mixed Up About Islam
by Clare M. Lopez
May 2026
 
A shorter list for our newsletter this month includes a couple of important reports about strides the Trump administration has been taking in the right direction regarding expulsion of foreign nationals who never should have been admitted to the U.S. in the first place. Stay tuned to events in the Middle East, though, where the U.S. Ambassador to Turkey and Envoy to the Syrian regime in Damascus seems more interested in promoting the interests of these two jihadi regimes than those of the USA.
 
“Wall or Sieve? Attacks Raise Doubts About U.S. Immigration System” by Benjamin Weingarten at Real Clear Investigations, April 15, 2026 
  • While important strides toward securing America’s borders have been made and deportations of criminal illegal aliens continue, questions remain about the vetting and screening standards for granting legal entry into the U.S.—albeit for some of those who should never have been admitted but who arrived under earlier administrations.
 
“Final Order of Removal: Board of Immigration Appeals Denies Far-Left Activist Mahmoud Khalil’s Efforts to Dismiss Deportation” by Margaret Flavin at Gateway Pundit, April 10, 2026 
  • This is, at last, a final order of deportation for this campus jihadi.
 
“Trump administration attempts to deport Iranian media commentator Yousof Azizi” by Kanishka Singh at Reuters, April 16, 2026 
  • Azizi is accused of lying on his original student visa application by denying membership in the Iranian Student Basij Organization, which supports the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), a U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organization.
 
“America’s Ambassador to Turkey Is Undermining U.S. Interests” by Sinan Ciddi, Jonathan Schanzer at Foundation for Defense of Democracies, April 24, 2026 
  • U.S. Ambassador to Turkey, Tom Barrack, increasingly appears to be more supportive of Turkey’s Erdogan regime and Syria’s jihadi leadership than of the U.S. interests he was appointed to promote.
Federal Government Watch -
Adequate Vetting a Chronic Weakness of the Trump Administration
by Clare M. Lopez
April 2026

It’s a mixed bag this month: some things are moving in the right direction, but there are others that still need some adjustment.
 
UPDATE: “Ex-Miss California Booted from Trump Religious Liberty Panel After Allegedly Trying to “Hijack” Antisemitism Hearing — Immediately Turns on Trump in Bitter Public Attack” by Jim Hoft at Gateway Pundit, March 12, 2026
 
“Good Riddance! 'Free Palestine' Activist Sameerah Munshi Resigns from White House Religious Liberty Commission” by Rene Nal at RAIR Foundation, March 13, 2026
  • Another one gone…if only adequate vetting had been done before their appointments!
 
“U.S. Army Paid Company Founded By Director Of Muslim Brotherhood-Linked Group For ‘Leadership’ Training” by Luke Rosiak at Daily Wire, February 16, 2026
  • Vetting and awareness of who/what the Muslim Brotherhood is are still too often lacking inside the USG.
 
“Sudanese Muslim Brotherhood to be Designated as Foreign Terrorist Organization” at Homeland Security Today, March 10, 2026
 
“Here Are 4 Reasons Why Trump’s Meeting With Comrade Mamdani Was Politically Brilliant” by John Loftus at Daily Caller, February 27, 2026
  • Not entirely convincing as we watch New York City in slow-motion collapse, but perhaps the image of the President giving Mamdani a chance and putting him on notice from the Oval Office itself will now resonate more convincingly.
Federal Government Watch -
Trump’s Religious Liberty Commission Goes Off the Rails
by Clare M. Lopez
March 2026

President Donald Trump appointed the members of the U.S. Religious Liberty Commission in May 2025. We have written about some of its members previously, but here’s the latest:
 
“Religious liberty panel hearing on Jew-hatred at times digresses to discuss opposing Israel” by Andrew Bernard at the Jewish News Syndicate (JNS), February 10, 2026
 
“WH fires member who hijacked antisemitism hearing to condemn Israel” by Or Shaked at Israel Hayom, February 12, 2026
  • Although she never should have been appointed to this Commission given her views about Jews and Israel, the White House made the right decision in firing her following her antisemitic comments. 
 
News of Note
 
“U.S. Army Paid Company Founded By Director Of Muslim Brotherhood-Linked Group For ‘Leadership’ Training” by Luke Rosiak at Daily Wire, February 16, 2026
  • The payments to a non-profit group called “Nonprofit Empowerment Group” were made between 2021-2025.  The contract has since been terminated.
 
“New ‘Palestinian’ Constitution Shows We’re Creating an Islamic Terror State” by Daniel Greenfield at Jihad Watch, February 18, 2026
  • Trump administration’s Board of Peace includes a slate of Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) officials from the Palestinian Authority (PA) to administer Gaza. Its new draft constitution shows all the reasons why it’s crucial to get better advice to admin officials – ASAP.
 
Jihad Comes for Syria’s Minorities
 
Investigative Project on Terrorism (IPT) Director Steven Emerson and former Congressman Frank Wolf have teamed up to publish a 4-part series on what is happening to Syria’s minorities under the jihad rule of Ahmed al-Sharaa.
 
Part 1: “The silent genocide of Syria’s minorities: The betrayal of the Kurds” by Steven Emerson and Frank Wolf at Jewish News Syndicate, February 16, 2026
  • Not that what’s happening to the Kurds in Syria is anything but a U.S. betrayal but keep an eye on U.S. support to Iraqi/Iranian Kurds as they move to take on whatever’s left of the Iranian regime.
 
Part 2: “The silent genocide of Syria’s minorities: A country being emptied” by Steven Emerson and Frank Wolf at Jewish News Syndicate, February 16, 2026
 
Part 3: “The silent genocide of Syria’s minorities: Diplomatic treachery and media malpractice” by Steven Emerson and Frank Wolf at Jewish News Syndicate (JNS)”, February 16, 2026
  • The role of U.S. Ambassador to Turkey and Envoy to Damascus Tom Barrack comes in here for pointed criticism of his role in shielding the al-Sharaa regime from accountability for ‘sieges, massacres, forced displacement and systematic elimination of minority life’ in Syria.
 
“Part 4: “The silent genocide of Syria’s minorities: A documentary call to act” by Steven Emerson and Frank Wolf at Jewish News Syndicate (JNS), February 16, 2026 
  • This final segment of the 4-part series includes a link to a 4-minute video ‘that chronicles the harrowing systemic persecution of vulnerable minority religious populations by’ Ahmed al-Sharaa’s Damascus regime.
 
Now for some of the recent good news and well-earned kudos for the Trump administration!
 
“Trump Designates Branches of Muslim Brotherhood as Terrorist Organizations – The Progenitor of ISIS, al-Qaeda, and Hamas” by Antonio Graceffo at Gateway Pundit, February 23, 2026
 
“Congressional Hearing Discloses Republican Realism vs. Democratic Denial on Sharia” by Andrew Bostom at Front Page Magazine, February 23, 2026
  • Andrew Bostom’s account of the 10 February 2026 House Subcommittee on the Constitution hearing, entitled “Sharia-Free America: Why Political Islam and Sharia Law Are Incompatible with the U.S. Constitution”.
 
“At last! ONE elected representative has the raw courage to speak the unmitigated truth about Islam as a threat doctrine – THIS IS EPIC” by Rich Swier at DrRichSwier.com, February 4, 2026
  • Here is some well-deserved praise for Congressman Keith Self and Congressman Chip Roy and their role in convening the Sharia-Free America Caucus.
 
“EXCLUSIVE: ICE Arrests Foreign Terrorists Living in US” by Virginia Allen at the Daily Signal, January 26, 2026
  • Illegal terrorist aliens recently arrested by ICE include ‘members of al-Qaeda, ISIS, the Islamic Republic [sic] Guard Corps of Iran (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, IRGC), and MS-13’
Federal Government Watch -
Trump’s Islam Policy Remains Incoherent
by Clare M. Lopez
February 2026

While some dubious policies linger from the Biden administration years, even some Trump administration policy steps in the Middle East – Gaza, Iran, and Syria especially – raise questions about this admin’s and its envoys’ understanding of realities of Islam, jihad, and sharia. [Editor’s Note – There are a lot of cross-currents and personalities, but no true North Star in Trump Islam’s policy.  Not good.]
 
“Biden regime secretly sent millions to Hamas-linked CAIR, which then brought in Muslim migrants (including jihadis)” by Robert Spencer at Jihad Watch, February 1, 2026 
  • Isn’t this material support to terrorism, for which CAIR was named an unindicted co-conspirator in the 2008 Holy Land Foundation trial?
 
“Bill to Defund Taliban Faces Senate Vote” by Pedro Rodriguez, at the Daily Signal, January 30, 2026
  • Obvious question is “Why on earth have we been funding the Taliban at all?!”
 
“US deports three former members of Iran's IRGC who entered illegally, DHS says”, by Sam Halpern at the Jerusalem Post, January 28, 2026
 
“U.S. Designates Three Muslim Brotherhood Chapters as Terrorist Organizations” by Megan Norris at Homeland Security Today, January 13, 2026
 
So far, so good for the Trump administration, but then:
 
“‘No Idea’ of Threat Posed by Afghan Parole Program, Senator Warns” by Virginia Allen at the Daily Signal, January 15, 2026
 
“The Trump Administration's Delusional Gaza 'Master Plan'” by Khaled Abu Toameh at the Gatestone Institute, February 3, 2026 
  • At the recent annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, Jared Kushner presented a “New Gaza” master plan that skips straight away to a post-war vision, without ever explaining how luxury skyscrapers, a port, an airport, and more will get HAMAS to disarm and give up control in Gaza.
  • “Who’s Going to Pay $30 Billion to ‘Build’ 180 Skyscrapers in Gaza?” by Daniel Greenfield at Jihad Watch, February 1, 2026
    • Even aside from questions about HAMAS’ continuing rule over large parts of Gaza is the question of who’s going to be willing to sink billions of dollars into reconstruction there.
 
“Is Trump Being Bamboozled?: Islamic State Terrorists Threaten Comeback Thanks to His Support for Syria's Islamist Leader” by Con Coughlin at the Gatestone Institute, February 1, 2026 
  • Trump support for Syria’s jihadi ruler, Ahmed al-Sharaa, seems to forget all about his terrorist past, linked to both al-Qa’eda and the Islamic State. The ongoing slaughter of Syrian minorities – Alawites, Christians, Druze, Kurds – and the abandonment of U.S. former allies among the Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) – should be raising serious concerns about that policy – but are they?
 
“Why Are We Following Qatar's Foreign Policy on Iran?” by Daniel Greenfield at the Gatestone Institute, January 27, 2026
Federal Government Watch -
Did Somali Fraud Money Make Its Way to Al-Shabaab?
by Clare M. Lopez
January 2026


This is quite a list this time, but at the top (and as federal investigations continue), we must highlight the possibility that U.S. taxpayer funds found their way not just to Somali fraud schemes, but possibly the Al-Shabaab Somali terrorist organization, and even possibly as donations to Democrat politicians in Minnesota.
 
“Trump’s Treasury Secretary Says Somali Migrants ‘Gotta Learn Not to Defraud the American People,’ as Somali Fraud Scheme Being Probed for Terrorism Links (VIDEO)” by Cassandra MacDonald at Gateway Pundit, December 7, 2025
 
“Treasury Department Investigating Apparent Taxpayer Funding of Terror Organization Under Biden and Walz” by Jack Davis at Gateway Pundit, December 3, 2025
 
We have no idea who was either admitted to the U.S. without proper vetting during the Biden administration or who came in across the wide-open southern border. It is likely we will be learning more about them in coming months and years.
 
“U.S. Intelligence Warns: More Than 2,000 Afghan Residents May Have Terrorist Links” by Mariana Ramirez at Gateway Hispanic, December 14, 2025
 
“Miles from Nation's Capital, ICE Arrests ISIS-K Afghan Terrorist Who Was Released into the U.S. Under Biden’s Operation Allies Welcome” at Department of Homeland Security, December 3, 2025
 
“FROM PRISON TO PENTAGON: Convicted Muslim Brothers Hired Back, Destroying Federal Systems, U.S. Databases Wiped at Multiple Fed Agencies” by Pam Geller at The Geller Report, December 7, 2025 
  • Alarming evidence that U.S. government vetting procedures still need a lot of work. Here, two brothers who were convicted of hacking into federal databases and sentenced to prison, somehow were hired back—into the Pentagon – before being rearrested on similar charges.
 
“Why President Trump’s Executive Order on the Muslim Brotherhood Grants the Group the Legitimacy It Seeks” by Khaled Hassan at The Grand Strategy, November 25, 2025 
  • While applauding President Trump’s recent Executive Order that launched the process to designate several specific Muslim Brotherhood groups as Foreign Terrorist Organizations and/or Global Terrorist Groups, Hassan here notes that the broader overall Brotherhood network has not been targeted.
 
“When the Deal Replaces the Fight: Trump 2.0’s Islamist Turn” by Aynaz Anni Cyrus at her ‘Live Up to Freedom’ Substack, December 20, 2025 
  • Anni Cyrus here points to a number of troubling policy decisions made since the second Trump administration took office in January 2025 that seem to point to a continuing lack of understanding Islam, jihad, or sharia.
 
““We Are Confused. Did You Win or Lose?”” by Avi Abelow at Front Page Magazine, December 1, 2025
  • Avi Abelow makes some good points here: while the Trump administration is to be commended for standing steadfastly with our friend and ally Israel, he’s right to note that Western leaders, including our own, too often fail to understand the Islamic jihad motivations that drive Middle East/Islamic behavior.
 
“Texas Republicans launch 'Sharia Free America Caucus' aimed at defending 'Western civilization'” by Elizabeth Elkind at FOX News, December 18, 2025
  • Given that Article VI of the U.S. Constitution makes the Constitution the Supreme Law of the land, any other law – whether alien law like sharia or even state/local level law – is already superseded. But it is nevertheless good to see awareness spreading about the threat that Islamic Law poses to Western Civilization and our own Republic.