Schumer declares $400 million in federal funding for religious institutions’ protection

Rochester, New York – The federal government has increased financing for places of worship security by $400 million, Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer said on Sunday.

The increase in wealth coincides with growing worries about dangers to Muslim and Jewish populations, partly stoked by the conflict between Israel and Hamas.

“This is a persistent cascade of intolerance and even violence, and the state of hate has become a boiling point in America, and it demands a much stronger response,” Schumer said.

Under the increased increase in financing to the already-existing federal Nonprofit Security Grant Program, places such as synagogues and mosques might apply to utilize the money to install cameras or hire security professionals, according to Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer of increased York City.

“Synagogues, mosques, churches, and other houses of worship can get both security personnel to guard their institutions as well as cameras, fencing, windows that would resist any kind of attack,” Schumer said.

To apply for the first round of funding, houses of worship must do so by May 21.

“We’re going to keep funding so that no synagogue or other religious institution is going to have to live in the fear that they now live with,” Schumer said.

Last year, the program gave $305 million to charitable organizations to help safeguard their buildings against possible intrusions.

According to a New York Police Department official, three synagogues in New York City—including the Brooklyn Museum and Congregation Rodeph Sholom on the Upper West Side—received bomb threats via email on Saturday. Two synagogues were evacuated due to threats; however, no explosives were discovered.

Gov. Kathy Hochul said Saturday on X, formerly known as Twitter, that “those responsible must be held accountable for their despicable actions.”