JCPA Welcomes Congressional Jewish Caucus Letter Opposing New Conditions on Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP)

WASHINGTON – The Jewish Council for Public Affairs welcomed a new letter sent today by the Congressional Jewish Caucus to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem warning that new requirements on immigration enforcement and DEIA tied to the Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) risk undermining its core purpose: keeping Jewish and all communities safe amid rising threats.

JCPA has long raised concerns about these conditions, urging DHS to waive them so that synagogues and other institutions will not be forced to choose between their security and their core values.

“The Nonprofit Security Grant Program has been a lifeline as we face rising antisemitism, hate, and extremism — but these politically-motivated grant requirements threaten to force our communities to choose between their safety and their core religious values,” said JCPA CEO Amy Spitalnick. “The fact is that the NSGP is simply too important to be politicized to advance the administration’s agenda. JCPA is proud to support these members of the Congressional Jewish Caucus in urging the Department of Homeland Security to reassure communities facing real and rising hate and immediately reverse these harmful new requirements.”

The grant program is a vital resource for Jewish communities and other religious groups amid a surge in antisemitism and hate crimes. It helps to protect Jewish institutions by supporting added safety measures, such as security cameras and other physical security enhancements.

In August, JCPA sent a letter to the Department of Homeland Security requesting that it issue new guidance that waives “vague and concerning language” related to immigration enforcement and “illegal DEIA” in the terms and conditions for the security grant program.

JCPA and the Congressional Jewish Caucus both emphasized the importance of NSGP and encouraged as many communities as possible to apply, to both ensure their safety and ongoing NSGP funding.