US government spends record $454 million to secure religious institutions in the face of rising anti-Semitism

The federal government will spend nearly $150 million more this year than in 2023 to protect religious organizations, a move designed to counter the rise in anti-Semitism since October 7.

The Department of Homeland Security announced last week that it had allocated $454.5 million this fiscal year to the Nonprofit Security Grant Program, which funds security improvements at houses of worship and religious organizations. It is the largest amount ever allocated to the program and a significant increase from last year’s amount of $305 million.

“The funds announced today will provide communities across the country with the vital resources they need to strengthen their security and protect themselves from terrorism and other threats,” Jewish Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said in a statement. “The impact of these grants will be measured in lives saved and tragedies prevented.”

Jewish organizations have always supported the program. It began in 2005 with an allocation of $25 million and has grown exponentially since then. The majority of the funds have gone to Jewish institutions such as synagogues, day schools and other religious organizations – a trend that has continued this year, according to the Orthodox Union.

The funds are available to any denomination facing a credible threat, and in recent years Muslim and black Christian institutions have applied for funds, often under the guidance of Jewish groups with more experience in applying.

“The increased funding is not just financial support; it is an important response to the virus of anti-Semitism spreading across our country,” Nathan Diament, executive director of public policy at the Orthodox Union, said in a statement. “OU Advocacy drove the creation of the NSGP, and we will continue to fight every day to ensure Jewish synagogues and schools can protect themselves.”

As organizations like the Anti-Defamation League have documented a rise in anti-Semitism in recent years, Jewish groups have pushed for increased funding for the security program. This year, as regulators and law enforcement agencies reported a rise in anti-Semitic incidents since the war between Israel and Hamas broke out on Oct. 7, Jewish groups continued their efforts and Congress allocated a record amount of funding to the program.

Initially as part of a cross-party budget agreement Only $274.5 million in funding was provided The program was planned through this year, a decrease from 2023 that met opposition from Jewish groups. But that amount was later bolstered by an additional $180 million in funding as part of legislation that provided additional aid to Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan.

“We were very concerned that the amount originally approved for this life-saving program would not be enough given the unprecedented rise in anti-Semitism. That is why we worked closely with grantmakers and congressional leadership to include additional funding in the security grant,” Karen Paikin Barall, vice president of government relations for the Jewish Federations of North America, said in a statement to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. “This additional $180 million in nonprofit security funding will have a tremendous impact on the safety of our community.”