The "Invest to Protect Act of 2025" establishes a grant program to provide resources for training, mental health support, recruitment, and retention of local law enforcement officers in jurisdictions with fewer than 175 officers.
Catherine Cortez Masto
Senator
NV
The "Invest to Protect Act of 2025" establishes a grant program to support local law enforcement by providing resources for training, mental health services, recruitment, and retention. These grants prioritize de-escalation training, victim-centered approaches, and officer well-being. The program emphasizes accountability through audits, reporting requirements, and transparency in officer recruitment and retention incentives. It allocates \$50 million annually from 2026 to 2030 to facilitate these improvements in law enforcement practices and community safety.
Invest to Protect Act 2025: Millions in Funding for Small-Town Police Training, Mental Health, and Bonuses
The Invest to Protect Act of 2025 sets up a new grant program aimed at boosting resources for smaller law enforcement agencies – specifically, those with fewer than 175 officers. Think local cops, county sheriffs, and tribal police departments. This bill, if passed, will funnel federal money their way to improve training, mental health support, and officer recruitment and retention. It's all managed through the Department of Justice's Office of Community Oriented Policing Services.
Beyond the Badge: De-escalation and Mental Health Focus
The core of this bill is about changing how policing happens. It prioritizes funding for "de-escalation training," which teaches officers techniques to calm tense situations and reduce the need for force (Sec. 2). It also pushes for training that's more sensitive to victims, especially in domestic violence cases, and for handling situations involving mental health crises, substance abuse, and vulnerable people like at-risk youth or those experiencing homelessness (Sec. 2). For example, a small-town police department could use these funds to bring in experts to train officers on how to safely interact with someone having a mental health episode, potentially preventing a tragic outcome. The bill also allows funding to be used for active shooter training, handling of drugs, and ambush attack training.
Show Me the Money: Bonuses, Stipends, and Overtime
Besides training, the bill addresses the practical side of keeping good officers on the force. It allows grant money to cover overtime pay for officers while they're in training (Sec. 2). It also opens the door for signing bonuses to attract new recruits and retention bonuses – up to 20% of an officer's salary – for experienced officers (with at least 5 years on the job and a clean record) who commit to staying for another three years (Sec. 2). There's even a provision for stipends up to $10,000 for officers pursuing graduate degrees in fields like mental health or social work (Sec. 2). Imagine a local deputy using that stipend to get a master's in social work, bringing those skills back to their community.
Keeping it Real: Accountability and Transparency
To make sure the money goes where it's supposed to, the bill includes some safeguards. The Department of Justice Inspector General will be auditing the program to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse (Sec. 2). Any agency with unresolved audit problems won't be eligible for more grants for three years (Sec. 2). Plus, any recruitment or retention bonuses have to be publicly disclosed on the local government's website within 60 days, and the Attorney General has to report all those bonuses to Congress annually (Sec. 2). The Attorney General is also required to compare these grants with other grants and report any duplications. The bill authorizes $50,000,000 for each year from 2026 to 2030 for the grant program.