As a longstanding member of the Coalition Against Bigger Trucks (CABT), NAPO joined our coalition law enforcement partners in a June 30 letter to Congress urging them to reject provisions for heavier and longer trucks as they consider surface transportation reauthorization measures. Extensive research, including the U.S. Department of Transportation’s 2016 Truck Size and Weight Study, has consistently shown that heavier trucks have higher crash rates and out-of-service rates – including brake violations. In 2024, 5,340 people were killed in crashes involving large trucks – a 44.9 percent increase since 2010. Heavier trucks also put officers at increased risk in roadside crashes.
With the Senate adjourned for July 4th recess until the week of July 13th, NAPO will continue working during the recess to push our priority legislation that has been approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee through any path possible, including as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). We worked with bill sponsors and the Senate Judiciary Committee to submit three amendments to the Senate’s Fiscal 2027 NDAA: The Officer John Barnes and Chief Michael Ansbro Public Safety Officers’ Benefits Expansion Act, which would increase transparency and accountability in the PSOB Program; Fighting Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Act, which would direct the Department of Justice (DOJ) to develop treatment programs for police, fire, emergency medical and 911 personnel who suffer from PTSD or acute stress disorders; and Federal Carjacking Enforcement Act, to make it easier for federal prosecutors to prove carjacking offenses.
On June 30, NAPO announced our endorsement of Acting Attorney General Blanche’s nomination for Attorney General. We look forward to continuing working with him to support America’s law enforcement officers.
The DOJ announced June 23 that it is considering major changes to the Equitable Sharing Program, including raising the Equitable Sharing Federal Share on all assets seized and forfeited from 20 percent to 40 percent. This means participating state and local law enforcement agencies would receive 20 percent less, with the Federal government taking a larger share. The reduction of the non-federal portion could force state and local law enforcement agencies to cut funding for officer training and the purchase of new technology and equipment. It may cause agencies to reconsider their ability to participate in joint task forces with the federal government. Since participating agencies have used the program to fill funding gaps, a 20 percent reduction would result in less money to hire officers and improve officer pay and benefits. During the June 29 Law Enforcement Roundtable at the White House, Acting Attorney General Blanche assured NAPO and law enforcement representatives that the DOJ is taking our concerns into consideration before communicating the final decision on program changes.
The DOJ just released the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the over $3 billion grant program, the Bridging Immigration-Related Deficits Experienced Nationwide (BIDEN) Program, through the Office of Justice Programs (OJP). Grants are available to eligible states, state agencies, and units of local governments and tribal governments for significant participation in and support of Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) activities, and other DOJ efforts to combat gangs, cartels, and other violent crimes. The three grant categories are: 1) hiring of sworn and non-sworn law enforcement personnel; 2) technology and equipment; and 3) construction and expansion of temporary detention facilities for criminal illegal aliens.
On June 24th, the Senate Judiciary Committee held a nomination hearing for the Administration’s nominee to serve as the Assistant Attorney General for the DOJ’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP), Konstantinos (Kosta) Ligris. Mr. Ligris has a real estate law background and is a technologist and entrepreneur. As OJP Assistant Attorney General, he would be in charge of vital law enforcement grants and programs, including Byrne Justice Assistance Grants (Byrne JAG) program, Public Safety Officers Benefits (PSOB) Program, Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program, and soon the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS). It’s probable he will oversee the merger of the COPS Office and OJP into the new Bureau of Justice Grants. During the hearing, Chairman Charles Grassley (R-IA) highlighted the fact that families are not receiving adequate and timely PSOB Program benefits and asked Mr. Ligris to commit to fixing the program. If confirmed, Mr. Ligris responded that the PSOB Program would be his top priority on day 1.
It's the last chance to register for NAPO’s 48th Annual Convention at the Renaissance Center in Detroit, July 19-22, 2026. To view the agenda and register, click here.
For more on these and other legislative items, please click here for the July 1, 2026 Washington Report.
