Texan City Redirects Millions of Dollars of Israel Aid to Local Needs – Gov. Abbott Calls It ‘Antisemitic’ and Blocks It

The town of San Marcos, Texas recently uncovered that over $4.4 million in taxpayer dollars from its residents were being funneled annually to Israel through U.S. federal aid.

Faced with crumbling local infrastructure, underfunded schools, and pressing community needs like housing and healthcare, the city council bravely proposed a resolution to call for redirecting those funds back home—prioritizing American citizens over endless foreign handouts.

But Governor Greg Abbott wasn’t having it. In a heavy-handed move, he swiftly condemned the proposal as “antisemitic” and “pro-Hamas,” threatening to slash millions in state funding to the town if they dared to proceed.

Abbott even vowed to terminate existing grants and block future ones, all because a local government wanted to put its own people first.

This isn’t about hate—it’s about common sense. The San Marcos resolution explicitly condemned all forms of bigotry, including antisemitism, Islamophobia, and anti-Palestinian rhetoric. It called for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, an arms embargo on Israel amid ongoing accusations of humanitarian crises, and recognition of Palestinian rights.

Yet Abbott twisted it into something sinister, weaponizing the tired “antisemitism” smear to silence dissent and enforce unwavering loyalty to a foreign nation.

Let’s be clear: Criticizing Israel’s policies or questioning billions in U.S. aid isn’t antisemitic. It’s patriotic. Conflating the two is a deliberate tactic to shut down debate and shield controversial foreign entanglements from scrutiny.

Texas has an anti-BDS law on the books—signed by Abbott himself—that bans state entities from “boycotting” Israel, but this was a symbolic resolution highlighting how San Marcos residents’ federal taxes contribute to Israel’s military while local roads remain potholed and schools underfunded.

Abbott’s hypocrisy is glaring. He’s quick to rant about “America First” when it comes to other issues, like redirecting funds from Ukraine aid to border security. But when it involves Israel—the recipient of more U.S. aid than any other country—suddenly questioning it becomes “anti-Texas policy.”

Why is loyalty to Israel mandatory for Texas towns, while putting Texans first is punishable?

San Marcos, a community of just 70,000, is struggling like so many American towns. That $4.4 million could fix roads, boost education, or address addiction and homelessness right there at home. Instead, it’s part of the massive U.S. subsidy propping up Israel’s actions abroad.

Residents have every right to demand better.