Congresswoman Nancy Mace Reintroduces Bill To Designate Taliban As Foreign Terrorist Organization

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Dec. 18, 2025) — Today, Congresswoman Nancy Mace reintroduced the Preventing the Recognition of Terrorist States Act of 2025, legislation which would formally designate the Taliban as a foreign terrorist organization, designate the Taliban-led government of Afghanistan as a State Sponsor of Terrorism, and prohibit federal agencies from recognizing the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.

Since taking control of Afghanistan following the Biden administration’s botched withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan in August 2021, resulting in the deaths of 13 American service members, the Taliban have only further proven themselves to be a terrorist organization. The regime has systematically stripped away the rights of Afghan women and girls, banning them from schools and most workplaces. Despite pledging in the 2020 Doha Agreement to sever ties with terrorist organizations, the Taliban have continued to harbor al-Qaeda, a fact confirmed by the July 2022 U.S. strike which killed al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri in central Kabul.

Introduced in the 118th Congress with Rep. Mace serving as House lead and then-Sen. Marco Rubio leading the companion effort in the Senate, the Preventing the Recognition of Terrorist States Act of 2025 comes amid the Taliban’s continued consolidation of power following their 2021 takeover of Afghanistan.

"The Taliban are terrorists, and any effort to legitimize them is reckless and dangerous," said Congresswoman Mace. "They harbor America's enemies, oppress women and girls, and represent every value our nation stands against. The United States must never legitimize terrorists or terrorism."

The Preventing the Recognition of Terrorist States Act would:

• Designate the Taliban as a Foreign Terrorist Organization under Section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act.
• Designate the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan as a State Sponsor of Terrorism, subjecting the regime to significant sanctions and restrictions.
• Prohibit federal agencies from taking any action which states or implies recognition of the Taliban's sovereignty over Afghanistan.
• Block federal funding from being used to extend diplomatic recognition to the Taliban-led government.

The bill establishes as U.S. policy the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan was a coup d'état and therefore illegitimate, and acknowledges U.S.-designated terrorists, including Sirajuddin Haqqani, play key roles in the Taliban regime.

“We’ve seen what happens when America sends mixed signals to our enemies,” continued Congresswoman Mace. “This legislation draws a bright line in the sand and makes clear—now and forever— the Taliban will never be treated as a legitimate government by the United States.”

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