OJP FY 2026 Special Attorneys Program Round 6 | O BJA 2026 172665

FAQs: OJP FY 2026 Special Attorneys Program Round 6 (BJA)

What is the OJP FY 2026 Special Attorneys Program Round 6?

It is a discretionary Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) funding opportunity issued as a cooperative agreement under CFDA 16.076. The program is focused on strengthening prosecutorial capacity by supporting state, local, Tribal, and territorial prosecuting agencies so they can assign or hire experienced prosecutors to work in close partnership with federal authorities.

What is the main goal of this grant?

The central purpose is to bolster prosecutorial capacity and expand coordinated enforcement efforts with federal partners. The program is meant to improve a jurisdiction's ability to investigate and prosecute targeted crimes through direct collaboration and case coordination with federal authorities.

What types of crimes does the program prioritize?

The program is designed to improve investigation and prosecution capacity for specific categories of crimes, especially fraud and other offenses committed by aliens within the United States (referred to in the notice as "criminal aliens"). The notice also indicates additional potential assignments involving drug trafficking and human trafficking crimes committed within the United States.

Who can apply for this funding?

Eligible applicants include state governments, county governments, city or township governments, and federally recognized Native American tribal governments, along with certain other eligible entities as described in the NOFO.

Does this program include smaller or differently structured local governments?

Yes. The opportunity clarifies that "other units of local government" may include towns, boroughs, parishes, villages, or other general-purpose political subdivisions of a state. Eligibility will depend on how prosecution is organized in the jurisdiction and what the NOFO allows.

What is a "cross-designated" prosecutor in this program?

A cross-designated prosecutor remains an employee of their home prosecuting agency but is appointed to serve in a federal-linked role for assigned matters. This allows local or Tribal prosecutors to participate directly in federally coordinated investigations and prosecutions while keeping their local employment status.

What roles can funded prosecutors be appointed to under this program?

Funded prosecutors may be appointed either as Special Attorneys operating under the direction of the Department of Justice's National Fraud Enforcement Division or the Criminal Division, or as Special Assistant United States Attorneys (SAUSAs) embedded within a U.S. Attorney's Office.

Are the prosecutor appointments full-time or part-time?

Appointments can be full-time or part-time depending on operational needs. The notice states these arrangements will be handled on a case-by-case basis.

Will the prosecutor still work for the local or Tribal agency if cross-designated?

Yes. The model described in the notice keeps prosecutors as employees of their home agencies, while enabling them to serve in cross-designated roles for coordinated federal work.

What does it mean that this is a cooperative agreement?

The opportunity is issued as a cooperative agreement, which the notice frames as involving ongoing collaboration and coordination with federal partners. The program description emphasizes alignment with federal prosecutorial priorities for assigned matters and active case coordination rather than purely standalone local activities.

Which federal entities will coordinate with selected agencies?

The notice states that the National Fraud Enforcement Division, the Criminal Division, and U.S. Attorney's Offices will coordinate with selected prosecuting agencies to work through logistics and any unique local circumstances.

How is this program meant to help jurisdictions with limited specialized capacity?

The notice explicitly positions the initiative as capacity-building. Jurisdictions that may not have enough specialized personnel to consistently pursue complex fraud or trafficking matters can use grant support to add prosecutors or dedicate experienced prosecutors to this work in coordination with federal partners.

What is the legal authority for this program?

The program is authorized by Public Law 119-21, Title X, Subtitle A, Part II, Section 100055, codified at 34 U.S.C. 61101.

What is the funding opportunity number?

The funding opportunity number is O-BJA-2026-172665.

When was the NOFO created?

The notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) was created on July 28, 2026.

What is the application deadline?

The original application closing date listed is August 7, 2026.

What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?

The listed award ceiling is $3,000,000.

How many awards will be made?

The excerpt provided references expected awards, but it does not provide a specific number of anticipated awards.

Is the program focused on standalone local prosecutions, or joint work with federal partners?

The description emphasizes joint work and intergovernmental coordination. Awards are presented with an expectation of ongoing collaboration, alignment with federal priorities for assigned matters, and active coordination with federal partners.

Does the program support prosecutors working across jurisdictional boundaries?

Yes. The overarching goal is to increase the availability of prosecutors who can move across jurisdictional boundaries and authorities to help pursue complex fraud schemes and other serious crimes effectively with federal partners.