Abbott Threatens Texas City’s Funding Over Local Resolution On Gaza

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, R, has warned that he will trim authorities backing from nan metropolis of San Marcos if nan City Council passes a solution calling for a imperishable ceasefire successful Gaza and an arms embargo against Israel. The resolution, which is group for a ballot connected May 6, has sparked important controversy, pinch Abbott condemning it arsenic “anti-Israel” and “anti-Texas,” while supporters opportunity it’s a measurement to situation large authorities complete an world issue.

Governor’s missive to San Marcos mayor

In an April 29, 2025, letter to San Marcos Mayor Jane Hughson, Abbott expressed beardown disapproval of nan resolution, which advocates for a ceasefire successful Gaza and nickname of Palestinian sovereignty. He specifically highlighted nan nonaccomplishment of nan assembly to condemn Hamas for nan Oct. 7 massacre that triggered nan war. Abbott noted that nan solution did not mention nan actions of Hamas, which he described arsenic a captious rumor erstwhile considering nan broader Middle East conflict.

“Israel is simply a stalwart state of nan United States and a friend to Texas,” Abbott wrote successful his letter. “I person many times made clear that Texas will not tolerate antisemitism. Anti-Israel policies are anti-Texas policies.” His missive underscores nan heavy governmental disagreement complete U.S. overseas argumentation toward Israel and nan ongoing conflict betwixt Israel and Palestinian factions successful Gaza.

Abbott’s missive stated that his management had consistently taken steps to reason nan Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement, which targets Israel economically. This includes signing a rule banning Texas authorities entities from supporting BDS and requiring contractors to certify that they do not participate successful boycotts against Israel. The rule besides states that immoderate authorities entity that violates these provisions risks losing authorities funding.

Abbott posted connected X, “Anti-Israel policies are anti-Texas policies.”

The Texas rule that could let metropolis backing to beryllium stripped

The Texas law, specifically Texas Code § 2271.002, mandates that immoderate authorities government entity entering into a statement worthy $100,000 aliases much must certify that they do not prosecute successful a boycott of Israel. Failure to comply pinch nan rule could consequence successful nan termination of authorities funding. In his letter, Abbott said his agency was reviewing progressive grants to San Marcos to guarantee compliance. If nan metropolis assembly moves guardant pinch nan resolution, Abbott warned that his agency would not participate into early assistance agreements pinch nan metropolis and would besides terminate immoderate progressive grants.

Council members take sides resolution

San Marcos City Council Member Alyssa Garza, who introduced nan resolution, said nan metropolis of San Marcos could not trust connected nan authorities aliases national authorities “to extremity a genocide.” At an April 15 City Council meeting, Garza said astir nan resolution. She framed it arsenic a consequence to what she described arsenic nan nonaccomplishment of larger governments to reside nan business successful Gaza.

“[It’s] clear to maine that erstwhile they money bombs, but trim assistance for lodging and acquisition and truthful connected here, that’s connected. When they soundlessness protests present and crush dissent abroad, that’s connected. When they defund section governments and nonprofits and they telephone america ‘distractive’ for opinionated up, that’s perfectly connected,” Garza said.

The solution from nan metropolis sounds successful portion that it will, “support an extremity to U.S. subject backing and income to nan State of Israel, and an extremity to national and section taxation dollars contributing to nan humanitarian catastrophe and genocide successful Palestine.”

The solution besides identifies money from San Marcos that went toward Israel according to nan United States Campaign for Palestinian Rights. The solution states, “In 2024 alone, nan U.S. sent Israel $18 cardinal to bankroll 70% of nan ongoing genocide. According to nan United States Campaign for Palestinian Rights, $1,405,468,510 from Texans’ taxation dollars went to Israel’s acquisition of weapons. $4,434,675 of this came from San Marcos residents’ taxes.”

Financial implications for San Marcos

As nan City Council prepares for nan May 6 vote, nan conflict complete nan solution is apt to proceed to provoke beardown reactions from some section and authorities officials. If nan solution passes, San Marcos could look nan nonaccomplishment of millions of dollars successful authorities funding, perchance affecting early projects and initiatives.

“If nan City Council adopts this Resolution, nan Office of nan Governor will not participate into immoderate early assistance agreements pinch nan City and will enactment swiftly to terminate progressive grants for non-compliance. I will further nonstop each different authorities agencies to reappraisal agreements pinch nan City for imaginable breach,” Abbott said.