The program that provides federal funding to help synagogues and other Jewish institutions increase security would get $305 million next year under a House Republican proposal, which the Orthodox Union Advocacy Center called “a far cry from what is needed in the face of exploding antisemitism.”
House Appropriations Committee Republicans released the proposal before Monday’s consideration of the Homeland Security spending bill for the 12 months beginning Sept. 1.
The amount is slightly more than the $274.5 million that U.S. President Donald Trump has proposed spending on the Nonprofit Security Grant Program for the next fiscal year.
The amounts fall far short of the $500 million that more than 130 House members, 33 senators and Jewish organizations have called for in the wake of a sharp increase of antisemitic incidents, most recently the murder of two Israeli embassy employees in Washington, D.C., and the attack on pro-Israel marchers in Boulder, Colo.
“The pro-Hamas calls to ‘globalize the intifada’ have arrived in America,” Nathan Diament, executive director of the Orthodox Union Advocacy Center, stated. “Jewish communities are facing a real crisis with a real set of threats, and Congress must respond with real action.”
Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.) stated that the recent violent attacks make the need for additional federal funding even more urgent now.
“From bollards to prevent vehicular attacks, reinforced doors to keep intruders out, to the hiring of additional security personnel, Jewish and other faith-based communities need more protection—now,” Gottheimer said. “The threats are rising, and we must ensure communities have the resources to protect our families.”
In a debate on the House floor on Monday on a resolution condemning antisemitism, Rep. Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.) said the $305 million was the amount spent in the year before Oct. 7 and the subsequent “sudden and dramatic rise in antisemitism and before the recent violence against the Jewish people.”
“The need for security for every single Jewish institution has skyrocketed,” Goldman said.
In the same debate, Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-N.J.) said the government was spending what it could afford. “We are having a challenging and difficult budget,” he said. “If something is needed more, I’m sure we will respond to that as well.”
The federal government received more than 7,500 applications for almost $1 billion in funding, but disbursed only $454.5 million, according to statistics provided by the Orthodox Union.
“Every synagogue, school and community center denied funding is left vulnerable,” Diament said. “Thoughts and prayers are not going to protect us. It’s time for Congress to step up with the resources needed to keep our communities safe.”
