Federal Grants Incoming: $15M Annually Authorized to Fund Local Firearm Destruction Programs Through 2031

The “Restoring Trust in Public Safety Act” sets up a new federal grant program designed to help state, local, and Tribal governments pay for the complete destruction of unwanted or seized firearms. Think of it as a federally funded demolition budget for guns, running up to $15 million annually from 2026 through 2031 (SEC. 2. Authorization).

The Shredding Budget: What the Money Pays For

This isn’t just about collecting firearms; it’s about making sure they are permanently taken out of circulation. The bill authorizes the Attorney General to award competitive grants to eligible entities, which include states, local governments, and law enforcement agencies. If a state or large city gets the grant, they are required to pass subgrants down to smaller local agencies. This structure ensures that the funding can reach smaller police departments that might not have the resources to apply for a large federal grant directly (SEC. 2. Subgrants).

What can they spend the money on? The list is practical: purchasing or maintaining destruction equipment like tools for smelting, crushing, cutting, or shredding; contracting with specialized businesses for destruction services; and training staff in these methods. The key requirement is certification that the funds will be used to fully destroy the firearms, including every single part—the frame, barrel, bolt, grip, and even accessories like scopes and suppressors (SEC. 2. Definition of Firearm Destruction).

Who Gets the Check and Why It Matters

For local law enforcement and public safety departments, this grant money is a big deal. Right now, destroying firearms—especially those collected during buyback events or seized in criminal cases—can be time-consuming and expensive. This grant frees up local budgets. It also specifically carves out funding for different areas: one-third of the total appropriated funds must be set aside for applicants representing Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) or rural areas. This provision ensures that funding isn't just concentrated in the largest cities but is accessible to both urban and rural communities (SEC. 2. Funding).

If you live in a community that frequently runs firearm buyback programs, this legislation means those programs now have a dedicated federal funding stream to make sure the collected items are permanently destroyed, rather than just sitting in an evidence locker or costing the city money to dispose of. For taxpayers, while this is a new $15 million annual appropriation, the stated goal is to increase public safety by reducing the number of firearms in circulation, which is the trade-off for the federal spending.

The Fine Print: Record Keeping and Rules

To keep things above board, grantees have serious administrative homework. They must develop a written policy for destruction, maintain records on all destroyed firearms, and provide “documented proof of destruction.” The bill gives the Attorney General the job of setting the specific rules for what counts as “acceptable forms” of this proof. This is where things could get tricky: if those rules are too vague or too burdensome, it could slow down the program or lead to inconsistent standards across different states or Tribal governments. For example, will a photo and a signed affidavit be enough, or will it require video evidence and third-party verification? The clarity of these administrative rules will determine how smoothly the program rolls out.