Sen. Schumer announces $400M federal funds for security at places of worship day after series of bomb threats at NYC synagogues

NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) — Senator Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced a $400 million increase in federal funding for security in places of worship on Sunday, one day after three New York City synagogues and the Brooklyn Museum received bomb threats.

The boost in money comes as concerns rise over threats against Jewish and Muslim communities, fueled in part by the Israel-Hamas war.

Places like synagogues and mosques could apply to use the money to hire security personnel or install cameras under the new increase in funding to the existing federal Nonprofit Security Grant Program, Schumer, a Democrat, said during a press conference in New York.

“We’re going to keep funding so that no synagogue or other religious institution is going to have to live in the fear that they now live with,” Schumer said.

The program allocated $305 million last year to nonprofits to help protect their facilities from potential attacks.

The NYPD confirmed that on Saturday there were emails from an unknown sender regarding the threat of explosive sent to three synagogues in the city and the Brooklyn Museum.

Sent between 3:15 p.m. and 5:29 p.m. on Saturday, the bomb threats targeted synagogues in the Upper West Side, Midtown South and northwest Brooklyn, while the threat sent to the Brooklyn Museum said that the explosives were on the 2 and 3 train lines.

Two of the synagogues were forced to evacuate, though law enforcement found no explosives at any of the scenes.

At 7:25 p.m., Gov. Kathy Hochul took to X to inform the public that officials were actively monitoring the threats, which were determined not to be credible.

“We will not tolerate individuals sowing fear & antisemitism,” Hochul wrote. “Those responsible must be held accountable for their despicable actions.”

With two of the threats being levied against Manhattan synagogues, Borough President Mark Levine also made a statement denouncing the antisemitism and uptick in swatting incidents.

“A clear hate crime, and part of a growing trend of 'swatting' incidents targeting Jewish institutions,” Levine said.

During his press conference, Schumer acknowledged the threats—which he says have increased tenfold since 2022—and pointed out the lasting impact of fear.

“The second I heard about the threats, your heart sinks. You hope it's a hoax, and in this case, thank God it was,” Schumer said. “But that doesn't negativize the fear, the trauma, when synagogues and the houses of worship have to... be evacuated.”

The senator also acknowledged his conversation with the FBI regarding the investigation into the threats.

“I asked them to make every effort to track down who did this. And it’s hard to do, because those who do it can often hide where their email is coming from, where their phone calls are coming from,” Schumer said.

Schumer hopes that an increase in federal funding and subsequent expansion of security in synagogues, mosques and churches will help those who fear being a target feel safe in their house of worship.

Houses of worship will need to apply by May 21 to tap into the first round of funds.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.