JTA — The federal government of the United States distributes hundreds of millions of dollars each year to houses of worship to protect them from violent attacks, such as the synagogue arson in Jackson, Mississippi, last month, or the car ramming at the Chabad headquarters in Brooklyn last week.

But would a synagogue that declares itself a sanctuary for refugees — and refuses to cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement — be eligible for that funding under new terms implemented by the Trump administration? What about a congregation that runs afoul of the administration’s anti-DEI push by offering programs aimed at making Jews of color, Jews with disabilities, or LGBTQ Jews feel more welcome?

After more than six months of inquiries by Jewish organizations and members of Congress, the answer remains unclear: The federal government has not provided a definitive explanation of what conditions will apply to the funding. With the application deadline now passed, congregations that applied despite the uncertainty are waiting to find out whether they will receive an award.

“We are facing real threats against our communities,” Amy Spitalnick, CEO of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, said in a statement. “Yet — as we’ve been warning for months — we’re now seeing this vital program thrown into chaos and politicized in dangerous ways — from the delayed rollout, to confusing and contradictory guidance, to new conditions that force communities to choose between their values and their security.”

The latest effort to keep the security funding untethered from ideological or political conditions came Thursday in a letter signed by a bipartisan group of members of Congress set to be sent to Kristi Noem, the US Secretary of Homeland Security, who oversees the program.

The letter was organized by Jewish Federations of North America, which for the first time is publicly calling to remove the conditions.

In the letter, lawmakers urge the Department of Homeland Security to keep the Nonprofit Security Grant Program focused on its core purpose and free of unrelated policy requirements.

“In this time of rising antisemitic terror attacks and violence against diverse faith-based institutions, we believe it is crucial that NSGP remains a critical resource for all who seek to worship in safety and free from partisan politicization,” the letter says.

According to Eric Fingerhut, JFNA’s president and CEO, some Jewish........

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