Moskowitz, Gottheimer Lead More Than 40 Colleagues Pushing for More Federal Resources to Protect Jewish Communities

WASHINGTON, D.C. — As antisemitic attacks continue to rise across the nation, Congressmen Jared Moskowitz (D-FL-23) and Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ-05) are urging officials to increase funding for key federal programs aimed at protecting Jewish institutions and nonprofits. Their bipartisan letter to President Donald Trump—joined on by more than forty U.S. House colleagues—came following the murder of Israeli embassy staff members Sarah Milgrim and Yaron Lischinsky in Washington, DC, and as peaceful protestors in Boulder, CO, were targeted with antisemitic violence during a demonstration on behalf of Israeli hostages held by Hamas.

As the Trump Administration finalizes its budget request for fiscal year 2023, Moskowitz, Gottheimer, and their colleagues specifically requested the following:

• $500 million for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP), a FEMA program that helps secure Jewish and other faith-based institutions against threats and attacks;
• More funding for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to ensure federal law enforcement have the tools to investigate and combat hate crimes;
• More funding for local law enforcement, including key grant programs such as the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Program, the Jabara-Heyer NO HATE Act, and the Community-based Approaches to Prevent and Address Hate Crimes Program, all critical to identifying and prosecuting antisemitic violence; and
• Dedicated FY2026 assistance for faith-based organizations to hire additional security personnel.

“At a time when hate and violence against the Jewish community is at historic levels, it is imperative that the federal government take the necessary steps to increase funding for enhanced security measures,” the group wrote. “From bollards to prevent vehicular attacks, reinforced doors to keep intruders out, to the hiring of additional security personnel, the federal government must increase funding to ensure that the Jewish community is equipped with the necessary tools to prevent loss of life in the case of an attack.”

In 2023, the FBI recorded 2,699 religious-motivated hate crimes, 63% of which were driven by antisemitism. It was the highest number ever reported by the FBI since it began collecting such data starting in 1991.

Moskowitz previously led 77 other members of the U.S. House in a push to safeguard FEMA’s Nonprofit Security Grant Program from threats. He has been a leading voice in Washington calling out rising threats to the Jewish community, and helped lead the reintroduction of the Antisemitism Awareness Act to protect Jewish students.

For more information on Moskowitz and Gottheimer’s push to boost federal resources to protect Jewish communities, click HERE.

###