The Trump administration appeared this week to decree that cities and towns that have an official policy of boycotting Israel will be denied disaster relief funding — but after sharp backlash, denied they had any such policy while quietly deleting any mention of it from the Department of Homeland Security website.
As reported by Reuters, a document issued by DHS specifically bars "discriminatory prohibited boycotts" alongside all of the usual Trump adminstration policies prohibiting diversity, equity, and inclusion, or DEI, policies, and specifically states: "Discriminatory prohibited boycott means refusing to deal, cutting commercial relations, or otherwise limiting 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."
The move sparked instant backlash, not just from the left, but from some members of hard-right MAGA circles.
"Denying Americans who won't support the genocide being conducted by your friends," wrote Candace Owens, an extreme-right pro-Trump talk show host who has pushed antisemitic conspiracy theories and is currently being sued by the First Lady of France for claiming she is a transgender child groomer. "Trump has fully betrayed America for [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu and if you cannot see that now you are completely blind. Best 100 million Miriam Adelson ever spent."
Later in the day, Trump's DHS issued a statement saying, "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 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."
But according to Breaking Points' Saagar Enjeti, the administration "has removed the language requiring states not allow the boycotting of Israel to be eligible for disaster funds," wiping out any explicit references to Israel at the same time as they deny the policy is specifically targeting boycotts of that country.