Overview

• Ismail Royer, convicted in 2004 for aiding terrorist groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba and al-Qaida, served 13 years in prison before his release in 2017.
• Royer now leads the Islam and Religious Freedom Action Team at the Religious Freedom Institute, promoting interfaith dialogue and coexistence.
• Shaykh Hamza Yusuf, a co-founder of Zaytuna College, was charged by India’s National Investigation Agency in 2016 for speeches allegedly linked to influencing terrorism.
• Critics, including activist Laura Loomer, have labeled the appointments as a failure in vetting, citing concerns over national security risks.
• The White House has not issued further comments beyond the formal announcement of the appointments on May 17, 2025.