Trump has been winning left and right. But this has thrown a massive question mark in the air.
Now the White House made a move that left many Republicans scratching their heads.
FEMA’s Short-Lived Policy on Israel Boycotts
The Trump administration introduced a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) policy requiring states and cities to certify they would not boycott Israeli companies to access at least $1.9 billion in federal disaster preparedness funds, including grants for search-and-rescue equipment, emergency manager salaries, and backup power systems.
The policy, detailed in 11 grant notices reviewed by Reuters, also mandated compliance for major cities to receive a share of $553.5 million allocated for terrorism prevention, with New York slated for $92.2 million based on terrorism risk assessments.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which oversees FEMA, framed the condition as part of enforcing antidiscrimination laws, targeting the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement, which it labeled as “expressly grounded in antisemitism.”
BDS, described on its website as a Palestinian-led initiative for “freedom, justice and equality,” seeks to pressure Israel to end its occupation of Palestinian territories.
Mixed Reactions to the Policy
The policy drew varied responses. The American Jewish Committee, through its director of antisemitism policy, Holly Huffnagle, supported the measure, aligning with DHS’s view that BDS promotes antisemitism. Conversely, Mahmoud Nawajaa of the BDS movement called it “shameful,” arguing it penalized advocacy for Palestinian rights.
Critics, including some Trump supporters like Candace Owens, labeled it an “Israel First” policy, questioning its alignment with “America First” principles and raising concerns about First Amendment violations by tying aid to political stances.
A coalition of 20 Democratic attorneys general, referencing a May 2025 lawsuit against Trump’s threats to withhold disaster funds over immigration policies, expressed alarm at linking federal aid to ideological positions.
The requirement was seen as largely symbolic, as 34 states already have anti-BDS laws, per a University of Pennsylvania law journal study.
Swift Reversal Amid Backlash
The Trump administration reversed the policy, removing the Israel-related clause from FEMA’s terms and conditions, as confirmed by DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin.
She stated, “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. FEMA grants remain governed by existing law and policy and not political litmus tests.”
The reversal followed backlash from both Democrats and Republicans, including MAGA figures who criticized the policy as eroding free speech.
The updated DHS document, published late Monday, omitted the boycott language, reflecting a quick retreat from the controversial measure, though DHS did not specify the reasons for the change.
The Trump administration reversed course quickly, responding to widespread criticism and highlighting the challenges of aligning federal funding with foreign policy objectives.
