Following the horrific terrorist attack on Temple Israel in West Bloomfield, Michigan, Jewish Federations of North America are urging congressional leaders in the House and Senate to increase funding for vital federal law enforcement and homeland security programs. 

 

“At a time of historically high antisemitic incidents and persistent threats targeting religious and ethnic communities, federal investments in law enforcement capacity, intelligence, preparedness, and prevention are urgently needed,” said Eric D. Fingerhut, President and CEO of Jewish Federations of North America. “Given the threat environment, robust federal support for law enforcement coordination, intelligence analysis, and community protection programs are essential to preventing and detecting violence before it occurs.” 

 

Jewish Federations call on Congress to support robust programmatic funding for the following: 
 

• Byrne Justice Assistance Grants (Byrne JAG): Provides vital flexibility that local law enforcement needs to address the unique security challenges facing the Jewish community 
   
• Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS): Advances community policing nationwide by providing grants, training, and technical assistance to state, local, and tribal law enforcement 
   
• COPS Hiring Grant (CHP): Reduces crime by providing direct funding for the hiring or rehiring of full-time sworn officers 
   
• Community Policing Development (CPD) Microgrants Program: Essential for fostering specialized expertise, cultural competency training, and the development and implementation of Hate Crime Prevention and Response pilot programs 
   
• Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN): Provides a coordinated enforcement framework that is essential to addressing antisemitic incidents and targeted threats 
   
• Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force Program: Enhances state and local law enforcement capacity to investigate technology-enabled crimes 
   
• Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI):
   
  • Salaries and Expenses (S&E) account: dedicated to expanding the Bureau’s capacity to investigate domestic terrorism, foreign-inspired extremist activity, and bias-motivated crimes 
     
• Department of Homeland Security Preparedness Activities:
   
  • Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) and State Homeland Security Program (SHSP): grants that enable state and local jurisdictions to develop and sustain capabilities to prevent, protect against, respond to, and recover from terrorism and other high-risk threats 

 

Jewish communities across the United States have built a proven security infrastructure to respond to the growing threat landscape they face, costing $765 million per year. This financial burden is not sustainable, and American Jews cannot bear it alone. Congress has an obligation to protect faith communities, ensuring they can practice freely, and must act now to help prevent further tragedies. 

 

To read the full letter, click here.