The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a notice saying disaster relief funding for cities and states is not tied to support of Israeli companies.

“There is NO FEMA requirement tied to Israel in any current NOFO. No states have lost funding, and no new conditions have been imposed,” DHS stated.

“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,” it added.

Prior reports on Monday said cities and states that boycott Israeli companies would be ineligible for disaster relief funds.

The reports cited a DHS memo saying “recipients must comply with all applicable Federal anti-discrimination laws material to the government’s payment decisions for purposes of 31 U.S.C. § 372(b)(4).”

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The memo read:

“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.”

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Axios stated:

The requirement targets the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions movement, a Palestinian-led movement advocating for Palestinian rights and “urges action to pressure Israel to comply with international law,” per its website.

At least 34 states passed anti-BDS laws between 2014 and 2023, according to a University of Pennsylvania law journal report.

“White House official tells me DHS Guidance has been updated to show no Israel requirement. It still bars recipients from operating programs that benefit illegal immigrants,” Bannon’s War Room co-host and White House correspondent Natalie Winters said.

“The section ‘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’ has been removed,” Winters added.

Winters showed an updated memo with the section pertaining to Israeli companies removed:

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