By Shannon M. Day, Senior Grants Development Consultant
What are congressional earmarks?
After being placed on hiatus for ten years, federally funded earmarks have returned. Earmarks, or Congressionally Directed Spending requests, are funds that members of Congress direct to specific projects in their districts. In the public safety sector, these projects can include a wide range of activities, such as:
- Funding for emergency operations centers and other public safety facilities
- Purchasing new equipment for law enforcement and criminal justice agencies
- Funding for violence prevention and intervention programs
- Supporting community policing initiatives
- Funding for training and education programs for public safety personnel
How do earmarks work?
Members of Congress submit requests to the House or Senate Appropriations Committee. The Appropriations Committees then review all the submissions and decide which will be included in annual federal appropriations bills.
Once Congress approves an earmark, the funding is allocated to the relevant federal agency. The agency is then responsible for administering the grant and ensuring that the funds are used for the intended purpose. At this point, the funding is treated like any other federal grant program.
Examples of public safety grant programs funded through Congressional earmarks
Here are a few examples of public safety grants funded through congressional earmarks:
- FEMA's Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Grant Program supports EOC operations by equipping, upgrading, and/or constructing emergency operations centers to provide fully capable facilities to ensure continuity of operations and continuity of government in major disasters or emergencies. Projects designated for funding in 2023 can be found here.
- COPS Technology and Equipment Program (TEP) aids applicants who respond to and prevent crime in developing and acquiring effective equipment, technologies, and interoperable communications. Projects designated for funding in 2023 can be found
- BJA's Byrne Discretionary Grant Program supports projects that improve the functioning of the criminal justice system, prevent or combat juvenile delinquency, and assist victims of crime. Projects designated for funding in 2023 can be found here.
Benefits & Drawbacks
Congressionally directed spending can provide multiple benefits to communities, including:
- Targeted funding for local priorities: Earmarks allow members of Congress to direct funding to specific projects in their districts. This ensures that the funding is used to address the community's most pressing needs.
- Flexibility: Earmarks can fund a wide range of public safety projects, including those that may not be eligible for other grant funding programs.
- Accountability: Earmarks are subject to numerous transparency and accountability requirements. This helps to ensure that the funds are used for the intended purpose and that taxpayers are getting their money's worth.
Congressional earmarks are a controversial topic. Some people believe they are a valuable tool for directing funding for important local priorities, while others think they are a source of corruption, waste, and political gamesmanship.
Critics of earmarks, sometimes conflated with "pork barrel" spending, argue that they can be abused by Members of Congress to steer funding to their own districts, even if the projects are not the most important or deserving. They also argue that earmarks can be a source of corruption, as Members of Congress may be pressured to support earmarks in exchange for campaign donations or other favors.
In determining if your organization wants to take advantage of directed funding, weighing the pros and cons is essential. It is also important to hold Members of Congress accountable for the earmarks they request and ensure that the funds are used for the intended purpose.
If you are interested in learning more about Congressional earmarks, you can visit the websites of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees. You can also contact your Member of Congress to inquire about their earmarks and how to get your project funded. If you're unsure who your congressperson is, you can find your representative here.