COPS Hiring Program (CHP)

Interested in applying?

Check out our How to Apply page for resources such as frequently asked questions, appendices, additional fact sheets, links to webinars, and more.

NOW OPEN:

The FY26 COPS Hiring Program (CHP) funding opportunity
will close on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, at 4:59 PM ET.*

*IMPORTANT: Applications will be submitted in a two-step process, each with its own deadline.

STEP 1: Submit an SF-424 in Grants.gov.
GRANTS.GOV APPLICATION DEADLINE: THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2026 (4:59 PM ET).

STEP 2: Submit the full application including attachments in JustGrants.
JUSTGRANTS APPLICATION DEADLINE: WEDNESDAY, JULY 29, 2026 (4:59 PM ET).

COPS Hiring Program Notice of Funding Opportunity Webinar

The COPS Office will be hosting a webinar for potential CHP applicants on
Tuesday, July 7, 2026, at 1:00 PM ET.

Please click here to register for the webinar.

ABOUT CHP

The Fiscal Year 2026 COPS Hiring Program (CHP) is a competitive award program designed to provide funding directly to law enforcement agencies to hire and/or rehire additional career law enforcement officers/deputies in an effort to increase their community policing capacity and crime prevention efforts.

Anticipated outcomes of the CHP program awards include engagement in planned community partnerships, implementation of projects to analyze and assess problems, implementation of changes to personnel and agency management in support of community policing, and increased capacity of agency to engage in community policing activities.

Who is Eligible?

Local Law Enforcement Agencies

State Law Enforcement Agencies

Units of local government (e.g., counties, cities, school districts)

Federally Recognized Indian Tribes and their Public Agencies

Public Government Agencies

State and local governmental entities must comply with 8 U.S.C. §1373, which provides that State and local government entities may not prohibit, or in any way restrict, any government entity or official from sending to, receiving from, maintaining, or exchanging information regarding citizenship or immigration status, lawful or unlawful, of any individual with components of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security or any other federal, state or local government entity. This includes any prohibitions or restrictions imposed or established by a State or local government entity or official.

Eligible applicants are limited to established and operational local, state, territorial, and tribal law enforcement agencies that have primary law enforcement authority for the jurisdiction served.

Funding

Up to $157.5 million in funding is available for FY 2026 CHP. Each award will support up to 75 percent of full-time sworn officer/deputy entry-level salaries and fringe benefits for three years within a five-year period of performance to accommodate time needed for recruitment and hiring.

There is a minimum 25 percent local cost share (matching funds) requirement, unless a waiver is approved. The maximum federal share per officer/deputy position is $125,000 over the three-year period, (not $125,00 per year) unless a local cost share (matching funds) waiver is approved. Any additional costs for higher than entry-level salaries and fringe benefits will be the responsibility of the recipient agency.

Applicants may request up to 2 percent of the federal award amount for direct costs associated with administering the award.

Supporting Documents

Need more information on how to apply to any of our programs?

For additional assistance we encourage you to visit the How to Apply page, which includes frequently asked questions, appendices, additional fact sheets, links to webinars, and other resources.

Please follow us on Facebook and X and subscribe to the CP Dispatch, the COPS Office e-newsletter, to learn about current news on awards and projects.