WASHINGTON, DC — Last week, Congressman Donald Norcross (NJ-01) joined 45 of his congressional colleagues in sending a letter to President Trump urging him to increase funding for faith-based security measures. Congressman Norcross has long been a supporter of this increase, and the recent violent attacks on our Jewish community have made this even more urgent.  The letter was a response to the recent shooting of two Israeli Embassy staff members, Sarah Milgrim and Yaron Lischinsky, who were murdered outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C. last month. A few weeks after the two were murdered, another horrific attack fueled by antisemitism occurred, this time in Boulder, Colorado. Twelve people were injured.  

In the letter to President Trump, the lawmakers request $500 million for the Non-Profit Security Grant Program (NSGP), one of the most effective programs for protecting faith-based communities from attack. They also request increased funding for the FBI to investigate acts of domestic terrorism and for programs that support state and local efforts to combat hate crimes. 

The full text of the letter sent to President Trump can be found here and below: 

The Honorable Donald J. Trump  

President of the United States  

The White House  

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW  

Washington, DC 20500  

Dear President Trump, 

We are writing to express our concern regarding the sharp rise in threats to the Jewish community as evidenced by and following the recent murder of two Israeli Embassy staff members, Sarah Milgrim and Yaron Lischinsky, here in Washington, D.C. In 2023, there were 2,699 reported religious-motivated hate crimes, of which sixty-three percent were driven by antisemitism — the highest number ever recorded by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) since it began collecting data in 1991. At a time when hate and violence against the Jewish community is at historic levels, it is imperative that the federal government take the necessary steps to increase funding for enhanced security measures. From bollards to prevent vehicular attacks, reinforced doors to keep intruders out, to the hiring of additional security personnel, the federal government must increase funding to ensure that the Jewish community is equipped with the necessary tools to prevent loss of life in the case of an attack. We ask that you include these necessary funding increases in your Administration’s FY2026 Discretionary Budget Request. 

The Non-Profit Security Grant Program (NSGP) is one of the most effective and critical programs for protecting the Jewish community and all faith-based communities from attack. There are many examples available that demonstrate the direct return on investment for communities under threat. For example, in July 2023, when an armed gunman attempted to breach the Margolin Hebrew Academy in Memphis, NSGP-funded access control doors prevented the shooter from entering the school. In 2021, when gunfire struck the Jewish Family Service building in Denver, impact-resistant window filming, purchased with NSGP funds, stopped the bullets from penetrating into the facility, protecting those inside. It is no wonder that in FY2023, for the first time in the history of the program, all 55 eligible states and territories applied. Nevertheless, only forty-three percent of applicants received funding. Therefore, we ask that you request $500 million for the NSGP in FY2026. 

As you know, the FBI has lead responsibility for federal domestic terrorism investigations and domestic intelligence efforts. Domestic terrorism investigations have more than doubled since 2020, according to the FBI. Pursuant to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2020, the FBI and DHS, in consultation with the Director of National Intelligence, are required to report on the domestic terrorism threat in the U.S. and actions taken to combat this threat. Given the significant increase in the number of domestic terrorism investigations, we urge you to increase funding for the FBI, especially its intelligence capabilities. 

Although the role of federal law enforcement agencies is critical with regards to responding to antisemitic hate crimes, local law enforcement are on the front lines when these attacks occur. It is local police departments that build relationships and trust with Jewish communities. These relationships are imperative to ensure that hate crimes do not go unreported. Nevertheless, year after year, multiple law enforcement agencies serving populations greater than 100,000, in addition to many other jurisdictions, fail to share hate crimes data with the FBI. It is impossible to address hate crimes when the FBI does not understand their extent. We urge you to increase funding for local law enforcement, including for grant programs that support state and local efforts to combat hate crimes such as the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Program, Jabara-Heyer NO HATE Act, and the Community-based Approaches to Prevent and Address Hate Crimes Program, to ensure that antisemitic hate crimes are addressed and prosecuted in a timely manner. 

Finally, although Jewish institutions can use the NSGP to hire additional security personnel, the majority of Jewish institutions have either not been recipients of these grants or cannot afford the additional costs incurred. Given that your Administration has made clear its goal to respond to the rise in hate crimes, we urge you to explore opportunities, in cooperation with the House Appropriations Committee, to include dedicated assistance in FY2026 for faith-based organizations to hire additional security personnel. In light of recent events, it is more clear than ever that Jewish institutions are in desperate need of additional personnel support. 

Thank you for your time and attention to these urgent requests as you finish drafting your FY2026 Discretionary Budget Request.  

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