Senator Gillibrand Highlights How $1 Billion Could Fund Law Enforcement Instead Of Trump’s Ballroom

Senator Gillibrand Highlights How $1 Billion Could Fund Law Enforcement Instead Of Trump's Ballroom

May 13, 2026

During National Police Week, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) is highlighting data showing how the $1 billion in taxpayer dollars congressional Republicans want to pay for Donald Trump's ballroom project could instead be used to fund vital federal programs that would support hiring and training for law enforcement agencies across the country, as well as benefits programs for officers and their families.

"Instead of wasting $1 billion in taxpayer dollars into President Trump's vanity project, this money should go toward helping local law enforcement attract and retain new talent, support officers injured in the line of duty, and receive improved training and new equipment," said Senator Gillibrand. "I urge my Republican colleagues to reject the president's wasteful proposal and instead support the law enforcement officials who dedicate their lives to keeping our communities safe."

Below are estimates of what this funding could do for these crucial police programs instead of a ballroom:

Providing Child Care for Police Officers:

• $1 billion could provide full funding and expansion of the Providing Child Care for Police Officers Act's pilot program.
• $25 million a year would fund Senator Gillibrand's legislation to expand access to childcare and promote innovative solutions for our first responders and their families to ease the burdens of overtime and irregular hours.

Access to Mental Health:

• $1 billion could fund Senator Gillibrand's First Responders Wellness Act to establish a national mental health hotline for first responders.
  • The legislation allocates $10 million a year to expand access to mental and behavioral health support that is specifically tailored to the needs of first responders and staffed by peer specialists and counselors who have an understanding of the occupational stressors experienced by first responders and have completed trauma-informed training.
• $1 billion could provide funding to establish a first responders mental health professional pilot program designed to increase the number of culturally competent, confidential, and independent mental health services to law enforcement officers.

COPS Hiring Program:

• $1 billion could provide nearly four years of full funding for the COPS Hiring Program.
• In Fiscal Year 2026, over $250 million was appropriated for this program, which is designed to provide funding directly to local law enforcement agencies to hire and/or retain officers and support community policing efforts.

Public Safety Officers' Benefits Program:

• $1 billion could fully fund four years of the Public Safety Officers' Benefits Program, providing benefits to over 2,000 first responders and their families.
• In Fiscal Year 2026, $236 million was appropriated for this program, which provides death and education benefits to survivors of fallen law enforcement officers, firefighters, and other first responders, and disability benefits to officers catastrophically injured in the line of duty.

Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program:

• $1 billion could fund a full year of Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grants.
• This program is the leading source of federal justice funding to state and local jurisdictions. It provides funding to support personnel, equipment, supplies, contractual support, training, technical assistance, and information systems for criminal justice or civil proceedings for a multitude of programs, including:
  • Law enforcement
  • Prevention and Education
  • Corrections
  • Drug treatment
  • Witness protection
  • Mental health and behavioral programs

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