NEW REPORT: How One Billion Dollars Can Fund Law Enforcement in U.S. Instead of Trump’s Ballroom

WASHINGTON, DC - During National Police Week, U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) released the following report outlining how the $1 billion in taxpayer dollars to pay for Donald Trump's ballroom project could instead be used to fund several federal programs that would support hiring and training for law enforcement agencies across the country, and benefits programs for officers and their families.

"Washington Republicans always seem to struggle to fund critical programs that help hardworking families, but are more than willing to use Americans' tax dollars for Donald Trump's vanity projects. Instead of using a billion dollars in taxpayer money for a White House Ballroom, we could be using this funding to increase funding for our law enforcement to fight crime, hire more officers, and support loved ones of officers who are killed," said Senator Rosen. "During National Police Week, I call on my Republican colleagues to redirect this funding towards supporting our law enforcement and investing in public safety instead of Trump's Ballroom."

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

COPS Hiring Program:

• $1 billion could fund nearly 4 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 Officer Benefits Program:

• $1 billion could fully fund four years of the Public Safety Officers' Benefits Program.
• 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 the Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grants.
• This program is the leading source of federal justice funding to state and local jurisdictions, and 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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