Today, Congressional Jewish Caucus, led by Co-Chairs Representatives Jerrold Nadler (NY-12) and Brad Schneider (IL-10), sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem regarding the new political requirements surrounding the Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP). 

The Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) provides funding support for target hardening and other physical security enhancements and activities to nonprofit organizations that are at risk of attack. Synagogue, houses of worship of all faiths, and other Jewish and faith-based institutions use NSGP funds to protect congregants, employees, and community members against rising antisemitism and hate across the country.  

“As currently drafted, the Standard Terms and Conditions promulgated by the Department of Homeland Security on April 18, 2025, create onerous new compliance requirements for recipients that will divert limited funds and restrict the religious conscience of synagogues, schools, and other institutions pivotal to our community. We urge you to promptly issue new guidance that provides clarity and waives any terms and conditions that do not directly relate to the grant’s purpose, which is to help qualified institutions improve their security against increasing threats. There is now a limited window to clarify these terms and conditions before institutions must decide whether to accept a grant and we urge you to work expeditiously to do so,” wrote the Members.

“Furthermore, we reject any efforts to force Jewish and other houses of worship and institutions to choose between vital security funding and expression of their core religious freedoms, as well as their faith teachings and values. In this time of increased hate crimes against minorities, and in particular rising antisemitism, we believe it is crucial that NSGP remains a critical resource accessible to all communities in need and free from partisan politicization,” the Members continued. 

The members are urging Secretary Noem to reverse these new political, unconnected, and unnecessary requirements so that institutions across the country can seek, accept, and deploy the essential resources. 

The full text of the letter can be found here and below. 

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Dear Secretary Noem: 

First, thank you for your ongoing support for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP), which protects Jewish and many other communities at a time of rising antisemitism and hate crimes. As Jewish Members of Congress, as well as active members of our local communities, we appreciate how important these grants are to keep Jewish institutions and the people they serve safe and secure. 

We are writing to you today to express our strong desire to ensure that the NSGP is adequately funded and unimpeded by new requirements that are unrelated to the security of grant recipients and their communities. Insufficient funding or unnecessary obstacles to obtaining grants could undermine the right of every religious community to freely and peacefully worship and congregate without fear.  

As currently drafted, the Standard Terms and Conditions promulgated by the Department of Homeland Security on April 18, 2025, create onerous new compliance requirements for recipients that will divert limited funds and restrict the religious conscience of synagogues, schools, and other institutions pivotal to our community. We urge you to promptly issue new guidance that provides clarity and waives any terms and conditions that do not directly relate to the grant’s purpose, which is to help qualified institutions improve their security against increasing threats. There is now a limited window to clarify these terms and conditions before institutions must decide whether to accept a grant and we urge you to work expeditiously to do so. 

NSGP funds help synagogues and other Jewish institutions protect congregants, employees, and community members against threats by supporting safety measures such as cameras and other technology and infrastructure to harden facility security. Federal support for these investments through NSGP has saved lives and helped communities become more secure at a time of increasing violence and hatred. That is why there has been longstanding bipartisan support for a streamlined, effective program with minimal red tape and compliance requirements. 

Furthermore, we reject any efforts to force Jewish and other houses of worship and institutions to choose between vital security funding and expression of their core religious freedoms, as well as their faith teachings and values. In this time of increased hate crimes against minorities, and in particular rising antisemitism, we believe it is crucial that NSGP remains a critical resource accessible to all communities in need and free from partisan politicization. 

We urge you to reverse the new requirements promulgated on April 18, 2025 by January 21, 2026 so that our institutions can seek, accept, and deploy these essential resources. 

Sincerely,