US Conference Of Catholic Bishops Ends Refugee Program After USAID Funding Cut

The US Conference of Catholic Bishops has announced the end of its 50-year partnership with the federal government to provide refugee support services. This decision comes after the United States Agency for International Development cut funding for refugee resettlement programs. The USCCB stated that it cannot sustain the work on its own and will look for alternative means of support for the refugees impacted. The organization does not plan to revive existing federal government agreements for refugee resettlement programs. The USCCB had previously sued the Trump administration over a suspended refugee grant order, but a federal judge denied their request. The organization had received billions of dollars in taxpayer-funded grants from USAID and other agencies, with a significant increase during the Biden administration. Vice President JD Vance criticized the USCCB, suggesting they should focus on the humanitarian costs of a wide-open border, including child sex trafficking. The USCCB's decision marks the end of its reliance on taxpayer funding for refugee services. The organization's president, Archbishop Timothy Broglio, asked for prayers for the staff and refugees impacted by the decision. The move is seen as a significant shift in the USCCB's relationship with the federal government and its reliance on taxpayer funding.