The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has on Monday April 7, 2025, announced the end of its longtime refugee and child welfare partnerships.
The bishops blamed the move on President Donald Trump’s decision to abruptly cut federal funding for refugee resettlement services.
Archbishop Timothy Broglio, president of the USCCB, described the decision as “heartbreaking” and warned it would reduce services nationwide.
Catholic agencies across the country will no longer offer the full support they once provided to incoming refugees and children.
“We simply cannot sustain the work on our own at current levels or in current form,” Broglio said on Friday.
He added that the bishops would seek alternative ways to help the people already admitted by the U.S. government.
The bishops asked the public for prayers for the refugees and staff members affected by the sudden change.
They also confirmed they would not renew any existing federal agreements once their current terms expire.
No timeline was given for when the existing contracts will officially end.
In February, the bishops sued the Trump administration for withholding millions in refugee aid Congress had already approved.
But a federal judge dismissed the lawsuit, ruling that the contract dispute must be heard in the Court of Federal Claims.
The bishops are now appealing the ruling in hopes of recovering the withheld funds.
Beyond the court battle, the Trump administration also stopped accepting new refugees into the United States.
That broader policy shift has impacted all ten national refugee resettlement agencies, including several religious organizations.
Catholic bishops had played a leading role in helping legally admitted refugees resettle across the U.S. for decades.
Their work included finding housing, employment support, and basic necessities for newcomers.
Broglio also mentioned that a children’s support program would be affected, but didn’t offer more details.
The full impact of the cutback will be seen in the coming months.
