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The Trump administration reversed a policy that would have denied disaster relief funds to states and cities boycotting Israeli companies, scrubbing the requirement from its website the evening of Aug. 4, Reuters reported.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) removed language mandating that disaster relief applicants certify they would not cut “commercial relations specifically with Israeli companies” in order to qualify for federal emergency grants.
As CatholicVote reported Aug. 4, the previous policy first appeared Aug. 1 under the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grant conditions. It tied at least $1.9 billion in federal aid to a state’s position on Israeli business relations. The funds were designated for emergency equipment, disaster response personnel, and critical infrastructure.
After facing swift backlash online, DHS, which oversees FEMA, clarified that disaster relief should not be subject to political disputes.
“FEMA grants remain governed by existing law and policy and not political litmus tests,” DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement on the evening of Aug. 4, Reuters reported.
DHS has since published updated grant terms that make no reference to boycotts or Israel.
