DHS denies tying FEMA funds to Israel stance
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A view of the destruction in the wake of a flash flood in Ruidoso, New Mexico, on July 11. Photo: Jorge Salgado/Anadolu via Getty Images
The Trump administration appears to have changed a policy that previously stated that states and cities that boycott Israeli companies could be ineligible for disaster relief funds, it emerged on Monday.
The big picture: An April Department of Homeland Security notice stated that recipients were prohibited from "limiting commercial relations specifically with Israeli companies" in order to qualify for assistance, but this wording was not included in a later August version outlining the terms and conditions for FEMA applicants.
The latest: The change became apparent after the DHS pushed back on Axios' earlier report on the matter via a post to X.
What they're saying: DHS did not immediately answer Axios' questions on when and why it changed its terms and conditions, but the URL indicates it was in August.
- However, a DHS spokesperson told Axios, "There is no FEMA requirement tied to Israel in any current [Notice of Funding Opportunity]. No states have lost funding, and no new conditions have been imposed."
- The spokesperson added, "FEMA grants remain governed by existing law and policy and not political litmus tests. DHS will enforce all anti-discrimination laws and policies, including as it relates to the BDS movement, which is expressly grounded in antisemitism. Those who engage in racial discrimination should not receive a single dollar of federal funding."
State of play: States rely on these funds to cover search-and-rescue equipment, emergency manager salaries and backup power systems, among other expenses, according to a Reuters analysis.
- The requirement targets the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions movement, a Palestinian-led movement advocating for Palestinian rights and "urges action to pressure Israel to comply with international law," per its website.
- At least 34 states passed anti-BDS laws between 2014 and 2023, according to a University of Pennsylvania law journal report.
- Representatives for emergency and disaster agencies in California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon and Texas did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment earlier on Monday.
Flashback: President Trump has threatened to withhold disaster relief aid from California over political differences with Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom.
- In May, a coalition of 20 Democratic attorneys general sued the Trump administration for threatening to withhold billions of disaster relief funds if they don't cooperate with federal immigration enforcement officials.
Go deeper:
- Governors accuse Trump admin of stalling disaster recovery
- These states could suffer the most without FEMA
Editor's note: The story and headline were updated to reflect news that the reference to Israel is not in the latest DHS terms and conditions for 2025, and to add comment from the DHS.
