Sponsors (2)
The bill helps nonprofits quickly boost on-site security and builds grant-writing capacity, but it risks diverting limited funds to short-term staffing and administration, creating ongoing costs and potential civil‑liberties concerns without guaranteed long-term security improvements.
Nonprofit organizations can hire onsite security staff with grant funds, improving immediate physical security at vulnerable facilities that serve the public.
Nonprofits may hire off‑duty police with grants, giving these organizations access to trained, credentialed officers who can deter threats and respond to incidents.
Nonprofits (and local governments partnering with them) can use up to 5% of grant funds to hire staff to prepare future grant applications, likely increasing the number and quality of applications from organizations with limited grant-writing capacity.
People using or working at nonprofit facilities and the public could face reduced oversight and potential rights infringements if off‑duty police are used without clear accountability and rules.
Nonprofits could face unsustainable recurring costs after grants end if they pay for onsite or off‑duty officers, leaving them unable to maintain protection once federal support stops.
Grant money used to pay off‑duty officers may divert funds away from longer‑term security investments (like physical hardening or technology), reducing overall effectiveness of facility protection.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Expands allowed uses of Nonprofit Security Grant Program funds to include onsite security hires, off‑duty police, and up to 5% for grant application personnel.
Official title: To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to clarify certain requirements relating to the Nonprofit Security Grant Program of the Department of Homeland Security, and for other purposes.
Introduced July 27, 2026 by Joseph Neguse · Last progress July 27, 2026
Expands allowable uses of grants under the Nonprofit Security Grant Program so nonprofits may hire onsite security personnel, hire off-duty police officers, and pay staff to prepare grant applications (with application‑costs capped at 5% of a grant). The change adjusts eligible expense categories for grant recipients and affects states that administer the program.