Rep. Josh Harder announced new legislation to restore federal funding for law enforcement hiring grants to their original level, fully funding the program... The COPS Reauthorization Act restores more than $1 billion in federal funding annually through 2030 for officer hiring, training, and deployment to local departments.
Restore full federal funding for the COPS law enforcement hiring program through 2030.
Occurrences
Harder announces new legislation to restore federal funding for law enforcement hiring grants to their original level, fully funding the program.
Harder announced new legislation to restore federal funding for law enforcement hiring grants to their original level, fully funding the program that has hired thousands of officers across the country.
Evidence
The FY 2027 DOJ budget appendix says the Budget requests $303 million for COPS programs, including $256 million for the COPS Hiring appropriation, with $164 million specifically for the COPS Hiring Program.
A Senate amendment proposed on January 28, 2026 would rewrite Public Law 119-21 to retitle the provision as the COPS Hiring Program and extend the grant authority through September 30, 2030, for COPS Hiring Program grants. The amendment was ordered to lie on the table.
A Senate amendment proposed extending COPS Hiring Program grant authority through September 30, 2030, but the amendment was only ordered to lie on the table and was not shown as enacted.
FY 2027 budget materials request $256 million for the COPS hiring appropriation, including $164 million for the COPS Hiring Program, which is a funding request rather than proof that the 2030 restoration goal was enacted.
Assessments
The record shows a concrete legislative attempt to extend and restore COPS Hiring Program authority through September 30, 2030, but only as a proposed Senate amendment that was ordered to lie on the table and is not shown as enacted. The FY 2027 budget materials also request funding for the program, but a budget request is not proof that Harder's promise to restore full federal funding through 2030 was actually delivered. This is a serious attempt, but the promised outcome itself is not verified as achieved.
The evidence does not show that full federal funding for the COPS Hiring Program was restored or extended through 2030. A January 28, 2026 Senate amendment proposed extending grant authority through September 30, 2030, but it was only ordered to lie on the table and is not shown as enacted. The FY 2027 budget material reflects a funding request, not final appropriations or statutory restoration. The record also does not establish that Josh Harder authored, sponsored, or materially advanced the cited Senate amendment, so the attempt does not support full delivery or an effort badge for him.