Episcopal Bishop Mariann Budde, who publicly criticized President Donald Trump over his immigration policies, is now facing scrutiny after reports revealed that her church’s federal contracting arm, Episcopal Migration Ministry (EMM), received $53 million in taxpayer funds in 2023 for its migrant resettlement efforts. The Trump administration has temporarily paused these programs for evaluation of potential abuse.
According to records obtained by the New York Post, EMM used the $53 million in federal funds to resettle 3,600 individuals in 2023. While budget figures for 2024 are not yet available, the program reportedly sponsored 6,400 migrants from 48 countries, including Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Vietnam.
Despite its limited lobbying power, EMM benefits from advocacy by the Episcopal Church, which operates as a separate legal entity. A 2012 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report previously warned that refugee agencies have an incentive to increase resettlement numbers each year in order to maintain funding levels.
Critics now question whether Budde’s inaugural prayer service sermon, which condemned Trump’s immigration policies, was influenced by the church’s financial interests.
“Let me make one final plea, Mr. President,” Budde said during the service. “In the name of a loving God, have mercy on the people in our country who are scared now… The vast majority of immigrants are not criminals.”
EMM operates under a specialized federal refugee program called Preferred Communities, which was established during the Obama administration to provide extra government funding for migrants experiencing social or psychological difficulties.
Additionally, EMM benefits from the “Matching Grant” program, a public-private partnership where the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) provides $1 for every 10 cents raised, effectively multiplying federal funding for the church’s resettlement operations.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM), funded by U.S. taxpayers, provides interest-free travel loans to refugees entering the U.S. The Episcopal Church, rather than EMM, retains 25% of loan repayments, raising further ethical concerns about profit motives in faith-based resettlement efforts.
With the Trump administration reviewing federal migrant programs, EMM’s financial ties to the government are drawing increased scrutiny, especially as concerns mount over potential abuses in taxpayer-funded refugee resettlement.
