Synagogues and churches to Congress: Protect us now

A coalition of Jewish and other faith groups is urging Congress to significantly increase funding for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) to $1 billion by 2027, citing a growing security crisis for religious communities. The NSGP, established 22 years ago, provides funds for physical security enhancements like cameras, barriers, and security personnel for nonprofits, including synagogues and churches. Despite its growth to $300 million in annual funding by 2026, demand far outstrips availability; in 2025, only 20% of over 8,000 applications received funding, totaling $266 million out of $1.3 billion requested. The article highlights that religious communities are paying a substantial "antisemitism tax" for security, with Jewish communities alone spending over $750 million annually. The author states, "It's not the job of a congregation to protect itself by itself. That is the most important job of government. And government is failing." The call for increased funding emphasizes the government's responsibility to protect citizens and safeguard the constitutional right to worship freely and safely, especially as antisemitic threats and other hate crimes rise.