DHS Funding Will Target Violence and Terrorism Prevention
The department has seen an uptick in online efforts to recruit terrorists and encourage radicalization, leading to the development of the grant program.
- By Ralph C. Jensen
- Apr 28, 2020
DHS is making $10 million available to U.S. communities, allowing a targeting and effective means to combat violence and terrorism. Appropriated by Congress in fiscal 2020. The Targeted Violence and Terrorism Prevention (TVTO) grant program. The money is intended to develop a nationwide terrorism and targets violence prevention framework All eligible entities are encouraged to apply for this funding.
“Attacks by domestic terrorists, those inspired by foreign terrorist organizations, and acts committed by violent individuals with no clear ideological motivation have occurred in communities across America with tragic outcomes,” said Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Chad F. Wolf.
The TVTP Grant Program helps DHS to fulfill its commitment to addressing the threat posed by terrorism and targeted violence at home and builds on the promising practices identified in previous grant programs.
“These grants will improve local communities’ ability to prevent individuals from mobilizing or radicalizing to violence and create locally-based prevention frameworks to address these emerging threats,” Wolf said.
TVTP is the only federal grant program aimed at enhancing three capabilities in local communities.
- Establish and enhance local prevention frameworks with an emphasis on threat assessment and management capabilities
- Prevent domestic terrorism
- Find innovative solutions for preventing targeted violence and terrorism
“I want to thank Congress for funding for this mission in a bipartisan way over the last few years, most recently and most significantly, in the Fiscal Year 2020 Appropriations Act. We look forward to working with Congress to continue to advance this effort.” Wolf said.
Eligible activities under the TVTP Grant Program cover all aspects of prevention, include building resilience, intervention, recidivism prevention, and reintegration programs at the local level. The program supports the objectives of the DHS Strategic Framework for Countering Terrorism and Targeted Violence, which DHS released in September 2019.
TVTP Grant Program funds will support the development of local prevention capabilities at a time when DHS is observing an uptick in online efforts for terrorism recruitment and radicalization from a variety of sectors. DHS is committed to expanding the program and the President has requested an additional $20 million for TVTP grant funds next fiscal year.
About the Author
Ralph C. Jensen is the Publisher/Editor in chief of Security Today magazine.