In 2007, Congressman Kirk ordered an Inspector General investigation into reports that more than $140,000 was provided by the U.S. Agency for International Development to the Hamas-controlled Islamic University in Gaza.

In June 2007, Congressman Kirk authored appropriations language tightening anti-terror vetting language to include institutions that have terrorist trustees—closing the funding loophole to Islamic University which boasts Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh. The Kirk language became law in 2007.

The Inspector General investigation led to a major overhaul of the State Department’s West Bank/Gaza anti-terror vetting procedures – steps that reduced the likelihood that U.S. taxpayer money can flow directly to individuals or groups tied to designated terrorist organizations.