Noem Announces $110M Security Grants for Religious Organizations Following Minneapolis School Shooting

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced Friday that $110 million in federal funding will be directed to faith-based organizations and nonprofit groups to strengthen security nationwide. 

The move aims to protect communities where Americans gather to worship, learn and connect.

The $110 million will be distributed through FEMA’s Nonprofit Security Grant Program, which provides resources for physical security enhancements and staff training to reduce vulnerability to attacks. 

The funding can be used for security cameras, gates, lighting, access control and other measures, Noem said, ensuring that organizations at higher risk have the tools needed to defend themselves.

“This funding allows schools, churches, and community centers to strengthen their defenses against violent threats,” Noem posted on X, highlighting the administration’s efforts to protect communities nationwide. 

She emphasized that the grants are focused on practical security improvements rather than political or unrelated programs.

The announcement follows a deadly attack at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis, where Robin Westman, born Robert, killed two children and injured 17 others. 

Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph Thompson said the shooter targeted multiple groups out of “pure, indiscriminate hate,” adding that his animosity extended to nearly every community imaginable, including black, Mexican, Christian and Jewish individuals, according to the Washington Examiner.

Religious communities across the country have increasingly become targets of violence. 

Christian and Catholic institutions have experienced hundreds of violent or destructive incidents over the past several years, according to new data. 

Muslim communities have seen a notable rise in anti-Muslim attacks, including tragic cases involving children, while Jewish communities have endured both historic and recent acts of antisemitic violence. 

Experts say these trends highlight the growing risks to any location where people gather to worship, learn or participate in community activities.

The Trump administration has made it a priority to address hate-driven violence specifically targeting Christians, Catholics and Jews. 

Officials argue that these faith-based communities have been disproportionately victimized in recent years and that safeguarding them is essential to maintaining religious freedom and community stability. 

By directing resources to these groups, the administration aims to reduce risks before tragedies occur and to ensure that worshippers and students can gather without fear.

Faith-based institutions are often considered “soft targets” because they host large groups of people in predictable locations and typically do not have robust security infrastructure. 

Schools, houses of worship, and community centers have increasingly been targeted by individuals motivated by hatred or extremist ideology. The new funding is intended to address these vulnerabilities while allowing organizations to continue their daily operations safely.

Noem stressed that the funding will go directly to the organizations most at risk and is designed to ensure Americans can safely gather in schools, houses of worship and community centers. 

“This is about protecting families, children, and communities where they should feel the safest — in school and in prayer,” she said.

The new funding highlights the administration’s focus on keeping communities safe, providing faith-based and nonprofit groups with resources to strengthen security and continue their daily activities without fear of attack.

Officials said the program is part of a broader effort to strengthen community resilience and reassure Americans that their places of worship and learning can remain secure in an era of increasing threats.

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