Jewish Institutions Awarded Most of the Federal Security Grants for Non-Profits

Last week, the federal Department of Homeland Security announced the final allocations for seven FY 2012 Preparedness Grant programs. One of the programs is the Nonprofit Security Grant Program that for the coming fiscal year provides $10 million for hardening targets and enhancing physical security at nonprofit organizations that are at high risk of a terrorist attack and are located in certain urban areas. The Forward reported yesterday that Jewish institutions received 97% of the 2012 grants under this program. The program has particularly benefited Jewish organizations since it was begun in 2005. (See prior related posting.) DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano has explained this, saying that there are special terrorism risks facing the Jewish community. Also the Jewish community has been particularly aware of the grant program. In an interesting choice of words,William Daroff of the Jewish Federations of North America defended the allocations saying: "This is not pork. This is Homeland Security officials making decisions based on threat levels."