Trump Admin Reverses Course After Backlash Over Israel Grant Rule
(MENAFN) The Trump administration abruptly reversed a controversial policy on Monday following widespread backlash over its plan to deny at least $1.9 billion in disaster preparedness grants to states and local governments that support boycotts of Israel or Israeli-affiliated businesses.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) appears to have removed contentious language from its internal grant guidelines, which previously required applicants to disavow any involvement in boycotts targeting Israel.
The original provisions explicitly stated that funding recipients must not support efforts to "sever commercial relations, or otherwise limit commercial relations specifically with Israeli companies or with companies doing business in or with Israel or authorized by, licensed by, or organized under the laws of Israel to do business.”
However, the language—first outlined in April—no longer appears in updated documents released after multiple media outlets highlighted that 11 grant notices published last Friday cited these terms, which effectively tied eligibility to an applicant’s stance on Israel.
“There is NO FEMA requirement tied to Israel in any current NOFO. No states have lost funding, and no new conditions have been imposed. FEMA grants remain governed by existing law and policy and not political litmus tests,” DHS clarified in a post on X, referring to the agency’s "notice of funding opportunity."
DHS further asserted, “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.”
The attempt to link funding to political positions on Israel was particularly unusual given the broad scope of programs these federal grants support—including cybersecurity enhancements, emergency food and shelter services, port security initiatives to deter terrorism, and the acquisition of search-and-rescue equipment.
Reports of the grant stipulation quickly drew fierce criticism from high-profile figures aligned with former President Donald Trump’s Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement, accelerating pressure on the administration to walk back the policy.
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