President Donald Trump on Friday suggested that churches in Texas providing aid to those affected by Hurricane Harvey should be reimbursed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
“Churches in Texas should be entitled to reimbursement from FEMA Relief Funds for helping victims of Hurricane Harvey (just like others),” Trump tweeted.
Churches in Texas should be entitled to reimbursement from FEMA Relief Funds for helping victims of Hurricane Harvey (just like others).
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 9, 2017
His remark came after three Texas churches — the Harvest Family Church, the Hi-Way Tabernacle and the Rockport First Assembly of God — filed a lawsuit challenging a FEMA policy that excludes churches from receiving recovery money from the agency.
All three churches were damaged in Harvey, and challenged the agency’s policy excluding structures that provide “critical service” or “essential government services” from receiving assistance from the agency to rebuild if at least half the building’s space is used for religious purposes.
