Bishop Mariann Budde, who made headlines for criticizing former President Donald Trump during an inaugural prayer service, has been found to have secured $53 million in taxpayer funds through her organization, Episcopal Migration Ministries (EMM).
Budde, a vocal advocate for immigration and LGBTQ rights, used her platform during the 2017 inaugural prayer service at Washington National Cathedral to call on Trump to show compassion for vulnerable communities.
She specifically urged him to consider the fears of undocumented immigrants and LGBTQ individuals, highlighting the struggles faced by families facing deportation.
However, recent reports reveal that while advocating for these causes, EMM, the federal contracting arm of her church, has been profiting significantly from government-funded migrant resettlement programs.
In 2023 alone, EMM received $53 million to resettle 3,600 individuals, according to The New York Post. By 2024, the organization had expanded its efforts, bringing in 6,400 individuals from 48 countries, including refugees from Afghanistan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Trump responded to Budde’s past criticisms with a scathing post on Truth Social, condemning her remarks as partisan and divisive. He accused her of failing to acknowledge crimes committed by undocumented immigrants and described the prayer service as “boring and uninspiring.”
EMM’s operations are heavily funded by taxpayer dollars, and many of the individuals it sponsors are immediately eligible for welfare programs such as Medicaid and cash assistance. Additionally, under a recent Biden administration expansion, resettled refugees can sponsor friends and relatives, further increasing the number of arrivals.
While EMM itself is legally restricted from lobbying for increased funding, the Episcopal Church—its parent organization—advocates in Washington for policies that benefit its resettlement programs.
One particularly lucrative program, “Preferred Communities,” offers financial incentives for resettling individuals with special needs, including LGBTQ refugees, torture survivors, and those with significant medical conditions. Unlike standard refugee resettlement, this program pays contractors a premium for handling cases with additional social or psychological difficulties.
Another source of revenue is the “Matching Grant” program, which allows EMM to receive $1 in government funding for every 10 cents it contributes, alongside used cars, furniture, and monetized volunteer hours.
Additionally, the Episcopal Church profits from collecting on interest-free travel loans issued to refugees for their flights to the U.S. If the refugee repays the loan, the church retains 25% of the amount. If the loan goes unpaid, taxpayers absorb the loss.
Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò has been among those raising concerns about religious institutions benefiting from globalist policies. He argues that many church leaders who advocate for immigration, LGBTQ rights, and environmental policies do so while personally profiting from these initiatives.
“When they talk about welcoming illegal immigrants, they do not tell you that they make huge profits from the management of immigrants,” Viganò wrote in an op-ed. “When they talk about the rights of the LGBTQ+ community, they do not tell you that they have a conflict of interest since they themselves are involved.”
The revelations about EMM’s financial windfall raise questions about the motivations behind the Episcopal Church’s advocacy efforts. While Bishop Budde and other religious leaders continue to push for expanded resettlement programs, taxpayers are ultimately funding an operation that blends humanitarian work with financial gain.