FY 2026 Special Attorneys Program Round 3
Can you apply?
This grant is for state, local, Tribal, and territorial prosecuting agencies to assign or hire qualified prosecutors. Eligible agencies work under the direction of the National Fraud Enforcement Division, Criminal Division, or serve as Special Assistant United States Attorneys within a U.S. Attorney's Office. Selected prosecutors remain employees of their home agencies while investigating and prosecuting crimes committed by aliens, as well as drug and human trafficking cases. Other units of local government including towns, boroughs, parishes, and villages may also qualify.
This grant is for state, local, Tribal, and territorial prosecuting agencies to assign or hire qualified prosecutors. Eligible agencies work under the direction of the National Fraud Enforcement Division, Criminal Division, or serve as Special Assistant United States Attorneys within a U.S. Attorney's Office. Selected prosecutors remain employees of their home agencies while investigating and prosecuting crimes committed by aliens, as well as drug and human trafficking cases. Other units of local government including towns, boroughs, parishes, and villages may also qualify.
Program description
This is a notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) for the OJP FY 2026 Special Attorneys Program. This program will support state, local, Tribal, and territorial prosecuting agencies to assign or hire qualified prosecutors to serve full-time or part-time (on a case-by-case basis) as Special Attorneys under the direction of the National Fraud Enforcement Division or the Criminal Division, or to serve as Special Assistant United States Attorneys (SAUSAs) within a United States Attorney’s Office.
These “cross-designated” prosecutors will remain employees of their home agencies but will investigate and prosecute assigned fraud and other crimes committed by aliens within the United States (hereafter referred to as “criminal aliens”) for the duration of their appointment under this program. Cross-designated prosecutors may also be assigned cases involving drug or human trafficking committed within the United States. The National Fraud Enforcement Division, Criminal Division, and United States Attorney’s Offices will coordinate with selected prosecutor offices on a case-by-case basis to address logistics and any unique local circumstances.
This grant program, authorized under Public Law 119-21, Title X, Subtitle A, Part II, Section 100055 (codified at 34 U.S.C. § 61101), is intended to strengthen investigative and prosecutorial capacity, expand intergovernmental coordination, and enhance the ability of jurisdictions to investigate and prosecute fraud and other crimes committed by aliens within the United States, as well as investigate and prosecute drug and human trafficking crimes. The program is also intended to increase the availability of cross-designated prosecutorial personnel who can pursue these matters in coordination with federal authorities and contribute to the effective enforcement of applicable criminal laws.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
Details
This grant is for state, local, Tribal, and territorial prosecuting agencies to assign or hire qualified prosecutors. Eligible agencies work under the direction of the National Fraud Enforcement Division, Criminal Division, or serve as Special Assistant United States Attorneys within a U.S. Attorney's Office. Selected prosecutors remain employees of their home agencies while investigating and prosecuting crimes committed by aliens, as well as drug and human trafficking cases. Other units of local government including towns, boroughs, parishes, and villages may also qualify.
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance)
- Project Narrative describing prosecutor assignment plan
- Budget and Budget Narrative
- Organizational capability documentation
- Letters of commitment from U.S. Attorney's Office or federal component
Program contact
- 👤 Bureau of Justice Assistance
- 📧 OJP.ResponseCenter@usdoj.gov
- 📞 202-514-9354
Funding track record
No recent recipient data available for CFDA 16.076 in our database.
This can happen for newer programs, programs that use non-standard award types (loans, direct payments, fellowships), or those funded through sub-agencies under different codes.
FAQ
Who can apply for this grant?
State, local, Tribal, and territorial prosecuting agencies are eligible. Other units of local government like towns, boroughs, and parishes may also apply.
What activities does the grant support?
The grant supports hiring or assigning prosecutors to investigate and prosecute crimes committed by aliens, drug trafficking, and human trafficking cases in coordination with federal authorities.
Is cost sharing required?
No cost sharing is required for this grant.
What is the funding structure?
Awards are made through cooperative agreements between the participating prosecutor offices and federal authorities.
When is the application deadline?
The deadline is June 17, 2026. This is a fixed deadline with no extensions.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Emphasize your prosecutor office's capacity to assign or hire full-time or part-time attorneys for the duration of their federal appointment.
- Detail how selected prosecutors will coordinate with the National Fraud Enforcement Division, Criminal Division, or U.S. Attorney's Office on case logistics.
- Highlight existing intergovernmental partnerships and your agency's experience with multi-jurisdictional investigations.
- Demonstrate your office's ability to handle fraud, alien crime, drug trafficking, and human trafficking cases simultaneously.
- Address how cross-designated prosecutors will maintain their home agency employment while pursuing federal cases.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applications fail when prosecutor offices cannot demonstrate realistic capacity to assign experienced attorneys full-time. Weak proposals lack clear details on coordination mechanisms with federal agencies. Poor applications do not address how home agency operations continue while attorneys work on federal cases.
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