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WASHINGTON (JTA) — Seven main Jewish organizations that lobbied for federal safety grants have decried $30.5 million in cuts to this system.
The lower from final 12 months’s $305 million budgeted for the nonprofit safety grant program, run by way of the Division of Homeland Safety, comes as stories of antisemitic assaults and threats have risen throughout the Israel-Hamas warfare in Gaza.
“These funds should not simply grants; they’re lifelines which have fortified very important establishments in opposition to hate and violence,” stated the assertion launched Tuesday by the Jewish Federations of North America, the American Jewish Committee, the Anti-Defamation League, Safe Neighborhood Community, Orthodox Union and the Convention of Presidents of Main American Jewish Organizations. “The safety measures these funds have supported at Jewish services throughout the nation have saved lives and prevented tragedy.”
The cuts, which have been throughout the board for the Division of Homeland Safety, got here as a part of an enormous final minute $1.2 trillion bundle negotiated by the Biden White Home, the Democratic-led Senate and the Republican-led U.S. Home of Representatives.
Solely 42% of the out there $305 million was used final 12 months, based on an announcement final September by Sen. Chris Murphy, a Connecticut Democrat who backs this system.
The teams didn’t handle the shortfall final 12 months of their assertion however stated that the risk has grown since Hamas launched a warfare on Israel on Oct. 7, triggering assaults and threats on Jews and Muslims. Since its inception in 2005, Jewish teams have been predominant amongst customers of this system, however Muslims extra not too long ago have sought its funds as their establishments come below risk.
“The NSGP’s significance has grown within the wake of the horrific occasions of the October seventh Hamas terrorist assaults on Israel, emphasizing the necessity for sturdy safety measures in susceptible communities as incidents in opposition to the Jewish neighborhood rise throughout the U.S.,” it stated.
Funding for this system, simply $15 million when it was launched in 2005, has ballooned in recent times. Prime lawmakers, amongst them Sen. Chuck Schumer, the New York Jewish Democrat and Senate majority chief, have stated they need to carry it up as excessive as $1 billion.
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