The Trump administration announced that states and cities boycotting Israeli companies will be ineligible for federal disaster preparedness aid.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) issued grant notices requiring states to certify they do not sever commercial ties specifically with Israeli companies to qualify for funding.
The big picture: This certification condition applies to at least $1.9 billion in federal funds used by states for natural disaster preparedness, including search-and-rescue equipment, emergency manager salaries, and backup power systems.
- The policy represents the administration’s latest effort to tie federal funding to political positions supporting Israel.
Driving the news: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which oversees FEMA, declared in April that boycotting Israel is prohibited for any state or city receiving its grants.
- Additionally, in July, FEMA mandated that a portion of federal terrorism prevention funds be used by states to aid in arresting migrants, reflecting another administration priority.
- The Israel boycott restriction specifically targets the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement, which aims to apply economic pressure on Israel to end the occupation of Palestinian territories.
- Support for BDS rallied more in 2023 after the Hamas attack on southern Israel and Israel’s subsequent Gaza invasion.
Zoom in: DHS stated it will enforce all anti-discrimination laws and policies related to BDS, which it defines as grounded in antisemitism.
- The restriction is largely symbolic since at least 34 states already have anti-BDS laws or policies, according to research from the University of Pennsylvania law journal.
