Trump Administration Reverses Decision to Link Disaster Funding to Israel Boycott Stance

World News

Trump Administration Reverses Decision to Link Disaster Funding to Israel Boycott Stance

3 months ago

News sources:

REUTERS 2

SCMP

TRTGLOBAL 2

HUFFPOST

MIDDLEEASTEYE

INDIATIMES

Trump Administration Reverses Decision to Link Disaster Funding to Israel Boycott Stance

Credited from: HUFFPOST

The Trump administration has retracted a policy linking disaster funding to states' stance on boycotting Israel.
States must certify they will not sever commercial ties with Israeli companies to receive federal funding.
At least $1.9 billion in disaster preparedness funds is at stake, covering essential emergency services.
The requirement faced substantial criticism and was deemed politically motivated.
The reversal follows growing vocal support for the BDS movement amid the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The Trump administration has reversed its controversial policy requiring U.S. states and cities to agree not to boycott Israeli companies to access federal disaster funding. This decision came following public backlash and scrutiny over the conditions that tied at least $1.9 billion in funding for natural disaster preparedness to political stances regarding Israel, according to Reuters, South China Morning Post, and TRT World.

The conditions specified that states must not sever “commercial relations specifically with Israeli companies” to qualify for disaster assistance. This funding is critical for search-and-rescue equipment and emergency management salaries among other expenses, as highlighted in grant notices reviewed by multiple sources, including HuffPost and Middle East Eye.

Anadolu Agency and India Times.

TRT Global and Reuters.

Middle East Eye and South China Morning Post.