NAPO Joins DOJ Leadership for Law Enforcement Stakeholder Quarterly Meeting

NAPO Executive Director Bill Johnson joined Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward, DEA Administrator Terry Cole, the acting leadership of the Office of Justice Programs (OJP), Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), the Office of Violence Against Women (OVW), and the leaders of national law enforcement organizations at the Department of Justice’s law enforcement stakeholder quarterly meeting on June 3.

During the meeting, DEA Administrator Cole and Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Director David Rausch highlighted innovative public safety initiatives supported or funded by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to reduce drug and gun crime. Leadership also touched on the consolidation of the COPS Office, OJP, and OVW into the new Bureau of Justice Grants.

When it came time for open discussion to address issues facing state and local law enforcement, Johnson brought up NAPO’s longstanding, significant concerns with the administration of the Public Safety Officers’ Benefits (PSOB) Program. Associate Attorney General Woodward committed to meeting with the leadership of the PSOB Office and BJA, under which PSOB is housed, to discuss our concerns with the lack of transparency and accountability within the Office that has allowed cases to linger for years with no action.

NAPO appreciates the opportunity to participate in this meeting and looks forward to participating in the next quarterly meeting and continuing to strengthen our relationship with the DOJ.

NAPO Participates in DOJ Briefing on COPS Consolidation

The Department of Justice (DOJ) held a briefing on June 4, led by Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward, to educate stakeholders on the consolidation of the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Office, Office of Justice Programs (OJP), and the Office of Violence Against Women (OVW) under the newly established Bureau of Justice Grants, to be led by an Assistant Attorney General. DOJ leadership referred to it as a “one stop shop for all justice grants” and promised streamlined and simpler Notices of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs) and simplified application and budget requirements.

The consolidation is scheduled to begin in September and have two phases: the first phase will be a consolidation and streamlining of administrative staff, NOFOs, and grant requirements, and the second  

phase will look at reducing redundancies within the various grant programs and grant program staff. While NAPO understands the intent behind the consolidation, we continue to hold strong concerns that it will have a negative impact on the COPS Office, which until now has been a separate and distinct office within the Department that reports directly to the Attorney General. We are disappointed that the DOJ is moving forward with the merging of these grant programs despite our opposition to the move and Congressional direction to maintain COPS Office independence.

The COPS Office is the only office within the Department solely dedicated to the needs of state and local law enforcement. The Bureau of Justice Grants, however, will cater to the entire criminal justice system, which could lead to the dilution of law enforcement focused grants under future administrations. COPS initiatives to put and maintain more officers in the field promote community policing, fight crime, and improve officer safety and wellness and should be continued and supported as part of an independent COPS Office.  

NAPO will continue working with the DOJ to protect the COPS Office and the vital grant programs it administers even as consolidation moves forward.

NAPO on the Hill: Fourth Amendment is Not For Sale Act; Monitor Accountability Act

Fourth Amendment is Not For Sale Act (FANFSA)

The Fourth Amendment Is Not For Sale Act (FANFSA) and FANFSA-related proposals continue to receive attention in Congress, especially as discussions around a long-term reauthorization of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) heat up. During House Appropriations Committee consideration of the FY 2027 Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies (CJS) appropriations bill, an amendment from Congressman Adriano Espaillat (D-NY) was adopted that, much like FANFSA, would restrict law enforcement agencies' ability to purchase certain commercially available information used in criminal investigations and public safety operations.

FANFSA would require law enforcement to obtain a probable cause warrant to access commercially available records held by third parties. This would restrict law enforcement access to critical, publicly available investigative information that is utilized every day to combat violent and serious crimes such as murder, kidnapping, drug trafficking, human trafficking, child sexual exploitation, terrorism, and threats of mass violence.

Publicly available data helps law enforcement focus its investigative resources on the most dangerous criminals. Publicly available data helps rule out suspects, find exculpatory evidence, and ensure that it focuses its resources and authorities on those who committed crimes. If enacted into law, FANFSA would hamstring law enforcement’s ability to aid victims, solve crimes, illuminate and investigate drug trafficking networks, and intervene in overt threats of mass violence as quickly as possible.

NAPO joined with our national law enforcement partners in a letter to House Appropriations Committee leadership on June 4, expressing our strong opposition to Congressman Espaillat’s amendment and urging Congress to ensure this amendment is not included in the final Fiscal Year 2027 CJS appropriations measure.

We also sent a similar letter reiterating our opposition and serious concerns with FANFSA to House and Senate leadership to defend against consideration of the bill in conjunction with Congress’ FISA debate. This is in response to calls from Senators Mike Lee (R-UT) and Rick Scott (R-FL) to include FANFSA warrant requirements in any FISA reauthorization.

NAPO continues to work with the Committee, House and Senate leadership, and lawmakers to ensure law enforcement continues to have access to this important data for criminal investigations.

Monitor Accountability Act

With the House passage of the Monitor Accountability Act (H.R. 8365) on May 14 by a bipartisan vote of 219 – 204, NAPO is turning our efforts to passing this important bill through the Senate. We met with the staff of Congressman Andy Biggs, the House sponsor of the bill, to discuss next steps and a strategy for moving it through the Senate. The Monitor Accountability Act would set clear rules for federal district courts to follow when appointing monitors to oversee state or local government agencies, including term limits for monitors, capping fees that monitors can charge, and providing a pathway to narrowing or ending a monitorship.

Federal consent decrees have a detrimental impact on state and local law enforcement agencies. In many cases, the decree process, once in place, turns into a self-perpetuating entity, with monitors overseeing what becomes, in effect, a cottage industry of oversight and shifting goalposts. The original goals of the decree, which may have been appropriately tailored to address specific issues or shortcomings, have long since been achieved. Yet the agency and officers continue to have additional, burdensome requirements imposed upon them.  

We continue working with Congressman Biggs to safeguard the interests and rights of not only state and local agencies, but their officers as well by giving the appropriate representatives of the rank-and-file officers standing to participate in a consent decree or monitorship.

NAPO Meets with Administration Regarding Crypto Legislation

NAPO met with Administration officials on May 28 to discuss our concerns regarding the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act (H.R. 3633), which establishes regulatory frameworks for cryptocurrencies and digital assets and is a priority for President Trump.

While we appreciate the provisions in the bill that enhance law enforcement’s ability to investigate digital assets, NAPO’s concern lies with one section of the bill, Section 604, that would regulate crypto blockchains. Specifically, it would exempt mixers, tumblers, and decentralized finance ledgers (DeFi) from regulations that govern money-transmitting businesses or individuals engaged in money transmitting. While we have worked with the Senate Banking Committee to make important improvements to this section, we remain worried that the language could create gaps in oversight and accountability that sophisticated criminal actors may exploit.

Criminal organizations are increasingly utilizing digital assets to facilitate and conceal unlawful activity, including narcotics trafficking, fraud, ransomware, child exploitation, organized retail theft, and terrorism-related financing. Law enforcement at every level relies on existing authorities and regulatory frameworks to identify bad actors, follow financial trails, recover illicit proceeds, and protect victims and communities from harm. Enforcement of laws and recovery of illicit gains continue to be incredibly complex for state and local law enforcement given the nature of the assets.

The gaps in the proposed regulatory framework for blockchains and DeFi could make investigations more difficult, limit the ability to trace illicit financial activity, and create new obstacles to holding offenders accountable. NAPO continues working with the Senate Banking and Judiciary Committees as well as the Administration to further refine Section 604 to ensure that safeguards, like those in traditional financial regulatory frameworks, remain in place to protect public safety and preserve effective investigative and enforcement tools.

Read NAPO’s joint law enforcement letter regarding our concerns with H.R. 3633 here.

Join Us for NAPO’s 48th Annual Convention

July 19 – 22, 2026  ~  Detroit, Michigan

REGISTER TODAY!

Join us for NAPO’s 48th Annual Convention being held at the Marriott Hotel at the Renaissance Center in Detroit, Michigan. The riverfront hotel located in downtown Detroit welcomes you with a contemporary design and a newly renovated modern lobby and restaurant. The hotel offers stunning views of the Detroit River and Ontario, Canada.

Participate in setting NAPO’s legislative priorities for the upcoming 120th Congress and learn from presentations by prominent law enforcement figures about the latest developments in police policies and services.

Very Special Thanks to Mark Young and the Detroit Police Lieutenants & Sergeants Association and Craig Miller and the Detroit Police Officers Association for sponsoring many of the convention’s events.  Without their financial support and tireless efforts, many of the events simply would not be possible!

To register, view the working agenda, get travel discounts, or to learn more about NAPO’s Annual Convention, please visit: https://www.napo.org/convention26

DOJ Announces New Grant Program: Model Cities Initiative

The Justice Department announced a new grant program, the Model Cities Initiative (MCI), which will be a whole-of-city approach directing nearly $300 million in federal funding to transform public safety in America’s cities. Through this pilot initiative, two to four cities with populations of at least 100,000 will be selected to receive awards supporting the implementation of comprehensive and innovative strategies to reduce crime, restore law and order, and enhance public safety.

The MCI initiative will support a range of allowable activities, including:

• Hiring and retention of sworn and non-sworn personnel directly engaged in or supporting violent crime reduction efforts.

• Purchase or lease of equipment, tools, or technology including but not limited to real-time crime centers; forensic and DNA tools; body-worn cameras; license plate         readers; artificial intelligence systems; small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and counter-UAS; ballistic identification systems; and information technology        upgrades.

• Training and professional development that support intelligence-led policing, violent crime investigations, crisis response, correctional practices that strengthen         reentry outcomes, and coordination with state and federal law enforcement partners.

• Facility Costs including lease, rental, or renovation expenses for space directly used in program operations, such as service delivery sites, training facilities, real-                time crime centers, or intelligence analysis centers.

• Mental health and substance use services that directly support prevention, crisis response, screening and early intervention, treatment, case management, and         related services addressing issues linked to public safety outcomes, including services provided in correctional facilities and in the community.

• Reentry, transitional support, and recidivism reduction programs and services designed to reduce repeat offending, support transitions from custody, and promote         successful reintegration into communities, including operational costs for county jails and state prisons that support reentry preparation.

• Victim services for victims of crime, including, emergency assistance, case management, shelter and temporary housing, medical and dental care, advocacy,         transportation, childcare, legal services, and employment assistance.  

• Youth crime prevention and intervention services including gang intervention and suppression programs.

Cities must apply through a whole-of-city approach, with city leaders, including the mayor, sheriff, chief, county prosecutor, and others will work together to submit one application that proposes a persuasive vision of how this money can be awarded strategically throughout their city to improve law enforcement engagement, victim services, detention and reentry services, and preventive programs.

Additional information about the award is available at www.justice.gov/grants. Proposals from qualifying cities are due September 1, and the DOJ anticipates making initial award decisions in late 2026. To apply for this award, please submit application materials to MCIapplications@usdoj.gov.

For any questions related to the MCI Call for Applications, you can send your inquiry to MCIquestions@usdoj.gov.

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