Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) has formally requested the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to investigate the Palestinian Youth Movement (PYM) for possible violations of U.S. tax code related to its funding sources. In a letter addressed to Acting IRS Commissioner Scott Bessent, Cotton raised concerns about PYM’s eligibility for tax-exempt donations and its reported support for terrorist organizations.
“An organization that supports terrorism, breaks U.S. law, and sows antisemitic discord should not receive any benefits from the American tax system. I ask you to immediately investigate both PYM and Honor the Earth and to take any actions necessary to remedy this situation,” Cotton wrote in his letter.
Cotton’s correspondence points out that PYM is known for what he described as “virulently antisemitic stances,” public statements supporting terrorist groups, and organizing anti-Israel protests within the United States. He further alleges that PYM receives financial backing from Honor the Earth, a registered 501(c)(3) charitable organization, with information on PYM’s website indicating that donations made through Honor the Earth are considered tax deductible.
According to Cotton, PYM’s activities—including its alleged support for organizations such as Hamas—should disqualify it from receiving tax-exempt donations under federal law. The senator cited statements by the Israeli government in 2024 claiming that PYM maintains close ties with designated foreign terrorist organizations like the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and is connected with groups such as Students for Justice in Palestine, which have been linked to Hamas.
Additional points highlighted in Cotton’s letter include PYM’s organization of events with Samidoun—a group labeled as a terrorist entity by U.S. authorities—and its participation in protests that allegedly justified Hamas’s attacks on October 7, 2023. The letter also notes that PYM is currently a defendant in a lawsuit related to blocking traffic intersections during a pro-Palestinian demonstration in Washington, D.C., earlier this year.
Cotton concluded his letter by reiterating his call for immediate action by the IRS regarding both PYM and Honor the Earth.
