The Trump administration plans to eliminate a critical Department of Homeland Security (DHS) program aimed at preventing terrorism, specifically the $18 million Targeted Violence and Terrorism Prevention Grant Program. Critics, including former DHS officials and experts, argue that this program has played a significant role in thwarting potential attacks, particularly lone-wolf incidents, which are rising in frequency. The program, which constitutes just 4% of the military’s marching band budget, focuses on identifying and mitigating threats posed by individuals radicalizing outside of organized groups.
Recent incidents underscore the growing need for such preventive measures, illustrated by violent acts in locations like Boulder, Colorado, and Washington, D.C. Bill Braniff, who previously oversaw the grant program, emphasizes the importance of prevention, likening it to widely accepted safety practices like having smoke detectors. He expresses confidence that the program has helped avert multiple violent incidents.
Former DHS counterterrorism official John Cohen highlights the DHS’s founding purpose: to safeguard against terrorist threats after the September 11 attacks. He calls the decision to cut funding “short-sighted” given the uptick in school shootings and violent acts fitting specific behavioral profiles. Interest in the program remains high; in 2024, DHS received 178 applications requesting nearly $99 million in grants, reflecting a desire for community-level initiatives targeting radicalization.
Despite the challenges in directly linking specific prevented attacks to the program due to confidentiality and data limitations, experts maintain that the program’s cessation comes at a dangerous time. Braniff posits that there is ample evidence to suggest the program has effectively contributed to thwarting potential mass violence, advocating for its expansion rather than elimination.
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