The Trump administration backtracks on its pledge to link disaster funding in the states to its stance on boycotting Israel.

The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has reversed its decision to require American cities and states to reject boycotting Israeli companies in order to receive disaster funding, according to a statement, and has removed the previous policy from its website.

The Department of Homeland Security deleted its statement, which stipulated that states must affirm they would not sever "business ties with Israeli companies specifically" to qualify for funding.

Reuters reported on Monday that this decision applies to at least $1.9 billion that various U.S. states rely on to cover costs for search and rescue equipment, emergency manager salaries, backup power systems, among other expenses, according to grant notices from 11 agencies reviewed by Reuters.

This represents a shift in the position of President Donald Trump's administration, which previously sought to penalize institutions that did not align with its views on Israel or anti-Semitism.

The disaster funding requirement targeted the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement designed to economically pressure Israel to end its occupation of Palestinian territories. Supporters of the campaign have become more vocal in 2023, following Hamas's attack on southern Israel and Israel's invasion of Gaza in response.

Tricia McLaughlin, spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, stated in a release on Monday afternoon: "Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grants remain subject to applicable laws and policies, not political criteria."

The Department of Homeland Security oversees FEMA. The agency noted in grant notices published on Friday that states must adhere to its "terms and conditions" to qualify for disaster preparedness funding.

These conditions stipulate not supporting what the agency described as "prohibited discriminatory boycotts," a term defined as refusing to engage with "companies that do business with Israel." The new conditions, published later on Monday, do not include this wording.

The Department of Homeland Security, led by Secretary Kristi Noem, defended the original policy, noting that the department "will enforce all anti-discrimination laws and policies, including those related to the boycott of Israel, which is explicitly based on anti-Semitism," according to a previous statement.

It is worth noting that this requirement was largely symbolic, as at least 34 U.S. states already have laws or policies against the boycott movement.