Bishops Legally Challenge Government on Refugee Aid Funding Dispute

Bible held in front of American flag. — American flag and hands holding the Bible

Catholic bishops sue Trump administration over abrupt halt to refugee resettlement funding, claiming it’s unlawful and harmful to vulnerable populations.

Key Insights

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration for halting refugee resettlement funding.
The funding cut is alleged to violate laws and the constitutional provision giving Congress control over funding.
The halt has led to layoff notices for 50 workers at the USCCB’s Migration and Refugee Services.
The USCCB argues that the resettlement program is a domestic initiative, not foreign aid.
As of January 25, 6,758 refugees under USCCB’s care are affected by this funding suspension.

Catholic Bishops Challenge Trump Administration’s Refugee Policy

In a bold move, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has taken legal action against the Trump administration. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, challenges the administration’s sudden halt to funding for refugee resettlement programs. This decision has sent shockwaves through the nation’s largest private resettlement network, managed by the Catholic Church.

The USCCB contends that the funding cut violates existing laws and the constitutional provision that gives Congress control over funding. This abrupt cessation of financial support has already resulted in layoff notices for 50 workers at the USCCB’s Migration and Refugee Services, with more cuts expected in local Catholic Charities offices across the country.

Catholic bishops sued the Trump administration on Tuesday over its abrupt halt to funding of refugee resettlement, calling the action unlawful and harmful to newly arrived refugees and to the nation's largest private resettlement program. https://t.co/q89v1ZWjuv

— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) February 19, 2025

Impact on Refugee Assistance and Church Operations

The funding suspension has severely hindered the church’s ability to care for thousands of refugees assigned to them by the government. As of January 25, 6,758 refugees were under USCCB’s care, eligible for resettlement aid for up to 90 days. The USCCB is attempting to maintain the program but finds it financially unsustainable without federal funding.

“The Catholic Church always works to uphold the common good of all and promote the dignity of the human person, especially the most vulnerable among us,” said Archbishop Timothy Broglio, president of the USCCB. “That includes the unborn, the poor, the stranger, the elderly and infirm, and migrants.”

Archbishop Broglio emphasized the church’s mission to support vulnerable populations, including refugees. However, the current situation has left the USCCB in a precarious position. “The conference suddenly finds itself unable to sustain its work to care for the thousands of refugees who were welcomed into our country and assigned to the care of the USCCB by the government after being granted legal status,” Broglio stated.

Legal and Financial Implications

The lawsuit names the State and Health and Human Services departments and their secretaries, Marco Rubio and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., as defendants. It accuses the government of causing long-term damage to the program by abruptly cutting funding. The USCCB is currently awaiting $13 million in reimbursements for expenses incurred before the funding cut.

“USCCB spends more on refugee resettlement each year than it receives in funding from the federal government, but it cannot sustain its programs without the millions in federal funding that provide the foundation of this private-public partnership,” the lawsuit says.

The suspension of funding is expected to delay refugees’ ability to find employment and achieve self-sufficiency. This not only affects the refugees themselves but also impacts the broader communities they are settling into, potentially increasing the burden on local resources.

As this legal battle unfolds, it raises important questions about the role of religious organizations in government-funded humanitarian efforts and the balance between immigration policy and the nation’s commitment to assisting vulnerable populations. The outcome of this lawsuit could have far-reaching implications for refugee resettlement programs and the future of public-private partnerships in humanitarian work.