EAGLE Act Funds $10 Million Grant to Help Small Police Departments Pay for Professional Accreditation

The Establishing Accreditation Grants for Law Enforcement Act of 2025, or the EAGLE Act, sets up a new federal grant program designed to help smaller, local police forces pay the often-steep costs of professional accreditation. Starting in Fiscal Year 2025, the bill sets aside $10 million to be administered by the Attorney General, specifically to cover things like accreditation fees, on-site assessment costs, and re-certification charges. The goal is straightforward: make it financially easier for small agencies to meet national standards.

The Accreditation Advantage: Why This Matters

For most people, "accreditation" sounds like bureaucratic paperwork, but in policing, it’s a big deal. Groups like the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) set national best practices for everything from use-of-force policies to evidence handling. Achieving this status signals that a department is meeting high standards, which can lead to better training, fewer liability issues, and increased public trust. The catch? It’s expensive and time-consuming, often putting it out of reach for smaller departments with tight budgets.

This grant program focuses squarely on solving that financial barrier. If you live in a town served by a small police department, this funding could mean your local officers are operating under the same professional standards as a major city, without local taxpayers having to foot the entire bill for the certification process. The bill specifies that these funds won't expire until they are fully spent, which is a smart move to ensure the $10 million allocation actually gets used.

Who Gets the Money and How It Works

Not every police department can apply. The EAGLE Act is strictly focused on "local law enforcement agencies" that have fewer than 350 employees. This means major metropolitan police departments are out, as the funding is aimed at smaller, often rural or suburban forces where the cost of accreditation hits harder.

To get a piece of the $10 million pot, an agency has to apply to the Attorney General’s office and prove financial need. They can’t just ask for a blank check; they must provide a detailed breakdown of exactly what the money will cover—think invoices for CALEA fees or assessment travel costs. This requirement, found in Section 2, is designed to keep the money focused strictly on the accreditation process and prevent it from being diverted to general operating costs like new patrol cars or salaries.

The Fine Print: Discretion and Eligibility

While the bill is clear about the employee limit, it does give the Attorney General’s office some wiggle room. The AG has 90 days to set up the program and will ultimately decide whether an applicant has adequately demonstrated their financial need. This administrative discretion is necessary for managing the grant process but means the AG’s office holds the keys to who gets funded and who doesn’t. For the agencies applying, it means the application process needs to be thorough and detailed to meet the federal bar for proving necessity.

In short, the EAGLE Act is focused, targeted legislation using federal dollars to promote accountability and professional standards in the small police departments that often serve our communities, ensuring that the cost of doing things right doesn't become a barrier to entry.