Rep. Whitesides Introduces National Bill to Restore Full Funding for Local Law Enforcement Hiring Program

The Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) funding bill has supported hiring for 140,000 officers nationwide. The program has not been fully authorized since 2009.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, during National Police Week, Rep. George Whitesides (CA-27) introduced new legislation to restore federal funding for law enforcement hiring grants to their original level, fully funding the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program that has hired thousands of officers across the country. The COPS Reauthorization Act restores more than $1 billion in federal funding annually through 2030 for officer hiring, training, and deployment to local departments. Rep. Whitesides joined Rep. Josh Harder (CA-09) and Rep. John Rutherford (FL-09) on the bill.

"Supporting community-oriented law enforcement is essential to our area's safety and I am proud to be leading legislation that will fully fund such a critical hiring program for local departments," said Rep. Whitesides. "This legislation will make it easier for our police departments to recruit qualified officers and invest in reliable crime-fighting strategies. A well-staffed, well-trained police force is the bedrock of community safety and reauthorizing COPS is a concrete step towards ensuring that more areas in our district and across America have that protection."

"Keeping Valley families safe depends on local departments having enough staff - full stop - that's why fully funding federal hiring programs is so important," said Rep. Harder. "Local law enforcement put their lives on the line every single day, and we have a responsibility to have their backs. This bill delivers on that promise by restoring funding for hiring more officers, expanding proven strategies that reduce crime, and finally getting politics out of public safety."

"As a lifelong law enforcement officer and former sheriff, I have seen firsthand the importance of investing in our state and local law enforcement agencies," said Rep. Rutherford. "The Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) at the Department of Justice is the only program at the agency solely dedicated to the recruitment and retention of officers. The COPS Hiring Program has played a key role in supporting our crime fighters nationwide. In just the last year, the COPS Office awarded 228 state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies grants to support the hiring of 1,155 full-time officers and deputies. I support the reauthorization of this program to continue boosting policing capacity and enhancing community safety."

Federal funding for hiring local law enforcement has been at risk for years:

• Administered by the Department of Justice, the (Community Oriented Policing Services) COPS program is the number one federal tool for helping local departments hire law enforcement officers, totaling 140,000 nationwide since the program's founding.
• But since 2009, the COPS program has not been fully funded, causing annual grants to constantly be at risk of disruption during federal budget fights.
• Without reauthorization, this critical program risks losing the sustained federal support needed to ensure law enforcement agencies can continue protecting communities and responding to emerging public safety needs.

How the COPS Reauthorization Act delivers on our public safety mission:

• Fewer Officer Shortages - Helps law enforcement agencies recruit and retain officers amid nationwide workforce challenges.
• Crime Reduction - Expands proven community policing strategies that reduce crime and improve public trust.
• Cutting Red Tape - Establishes the COPS Office as a standalone entity strengthening program management and federal support.

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