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The Trump administration has ended its contract with the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) for refugee resettlement as of February 27, according to letters from the U.S. State Department issued a day earlier.
Chieko Noguchi, executive director of the USCCB’s Office of Public Affairs, confirmed the termination in an email to OSV News on February 28. She stated that “on Feb. 26, the USCCB received notice from the State Department that they are terminating two of the cooperative agreements that fund much of the work we do in our Migration and Refugee Services department.”
This decision follows a suspension by the administration on January 24, shortly after President Donald Trump signed an executive order halting the U.S. Refugee Assistance Program (USRAP). Established by Congress in 1980, USRAP is designed to facilitate legal resettlement for vetted refugees in collaboration with federal entities, international organizations like the United Nations, and non-governmental organizations such as those affiliated with religious groups.
The USCCB was one of ten national agencies working with USRAP. In response to the suspension, it filed a lawsuit against the administration on February 18. The suit claims that this action is “unlawful and harmful to newly arrived refugees,” describing it as “a textbook arbitrary-and-capricious agency action” violating several statutes and undermining constitutional separation of powers.
Noguchi mentioned at a court hearing on February 28 that "the judge requested additional briefing in response to the February 26 State Department letters." She added that "we are preparing the requested briefing, which will be filed with the court next week," but declined further comment due to ongoing legal proceedings.
State Department comptroller Joseph G. Kouba informed Anthony Granado, associate general secretary for policy and advocacy at USCCB, about this termination through two letters dated February 26. These referenced both fiscal year 2025's “Enduring Welcome Reception and Placement” program and fiscal year 2024's “MRA Reception and Placement” program.
“This award no longer effectuates agency priorities,” wrote Kouba in both communications while citing passage 2 CFR 200.340 from federal regulations. OSV News awaits his response for further comments.
In December 2023, Kouba received recognition for aiding humanitarian efforts including relocation funding exceeding $2 billion more than five years prior.
Kouba’s letter also directed USCCB to cease operations immediately under these programs without incurring new costs post-termination date while canceling outstanding obligations where feasible.
As part of ongoing litigation processes following their lawsuit filing against said suspensions — notably Judge Jamal Whitehead granting preliminary injunction blocking actions taken — refugee aid groups like HIAS alongside Church World Service have sought emergency hearings scheduled March third challenging what they describe as attempts circumventing judicial orders via recent notices received parallelly akin contracted terminations affecting them too similarly purportedly unjustifiable if based solely alignment purposes given legality questioned regarding administrative conduct therein involved overall contextually speaking relatedly henceforth concluding commentary herein presented above aforementioned prior context preceding elements initially addressed early stages introductory phase article coverage entirety contained within single document reported matter final form output format layout structure observed standardize practice conventionally adhered consistent accuracy integrity 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