By MES Dispatch Staff
The Briefing
- The U.S. Department of Justice announced nearly $700 million in grant funding opportunities for state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies, administered through the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office).
- The largest single competitive program, the COPS Hiring Program, will make up to $158 million available for agencies to hire career law enforcement officers and expand community policing efforts.
- Congress has separately allocated $400 million for the COPS Technology and Equipment Program to help agencies acquire crime prevention and response equipment, technology, and communications systems.
- Additional funding pools address school safety, officer mental health and wellness, active shooter response training, and anti-narcotics task force operations targeting heroin, fentanyl, carfentanil, and methamphetamine.
- The DOJ stated that priority consideration for funding will be given to jurisdictions that cooperate with federal immigration enforcement and participate in Homeland Security Task Force initiatives; all state and local applicants must comply with federal law regarding the sharing of citizenship and immigration status information.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Justice announced June 10, 2026, the availability of nearly $700 million in grant funding through the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, targeting law enforcement hiring, school safety, officer wellness, active shooter preparedness, narcotics enforcement, and technology acquisition.
The announcement covers multiple competitive grant programs open to state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies. The largest is the COPS Hiring Program, through which up to $158 million is available to fund the hiring of career law enforcement officers and support expansion of community policing strategies. Congress has separately set aside $400 million through the COPS Technology and Equipment Program for agencies seeking to acquire or upgrade equipment, technology, and communications infrastructure used in crime prevention and response.
Other competitive programs announced include up to $73 million through the STOP School Violence Prevention Program for school safety initiatives; up to $9 million for law enforcement mental health and wellness programs; and up to $10 million for active shooter preparedness and response training. The DOJ stated the active shooter training program is expected to reach at least 20,000 first responders nationwide.
On the narcotics enforcement side, the department announced up to $34 million through the Anti-Heroin Task Force Program, which targets the distribution of heroin, fentanyl, carfentanil, and illegal prescription opioids, and up to $13 million through the Anti-Methamphetamine Program for initiatives focused on combating methamphetamine production and trafficking.
“These grants will deliver real, measurable impact in communities across the country,” said Associate Attorney General Stanley E. Woodward Jr. “This Administration is committed to strengthening public safety and ensuring accountability to the taxpayer. The Department will make certain that every dollar invested goes directly toward reducing crime and upholding the rule of law.”
The DOJ specified that all state and local applicants must comply with federal law governing the sharing of citizenship and immigration status information with other government agencies. The department also indicated that priority consideration will be given to jurisdictions that cooperate with federal immigration enforcement and participate in Homeland Security Task Force operations. Full program details and application information are available through the COPS Office at cops.usdoj.gov/grants.