Opportunity Information: Apply for O BJA 2026 172639
The OJP FY 2026 Special Attorneys Program Round 3 is a discretionary funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, administered by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA). It is offered as a cooperative agreement, which typically means awardees should expect close coordination with federal partners during implementation. The program is designed to strengthen the ability of state, local, Tribal, and territorial prosecuting agencies to work alongside federal authorities by dedicating prosecutors to federally supported casework focused on fraud and other crimes committed by aliens within the United States (described in the notice as "criminal aliens"), with additional potential assignments involving drug trafficking and human trafficking cases occurring within the United States.
At the core of the program is the concept of "cross-designation." Under this model, participating prosecutor offices can assign existing prosecutors or hire qualified prosecutors to serve either as Special Attorneys operating under the direction of DOJ components such as the National Fraud Enforcement Division or the Criminal Division, or as Special Assistant United States Attorneys (SAUSAs) embedded within a U.S. Attorney's Office. Even though these prosecutors take on federal-style roles and work in coordination with federal entities, they remain employees of their home agencies for the duration of the appointment. The day-to-day logistics, case selection, supervision structure, and any local operational considerations are expected to be worked out collaboratively on a case-by-case basis between the DOJ components involved and the selected prosecuting agencies.
The stated purpose of the program, authorized by Public Law 119-21, Title X, Subtitle A, Part II, Section 100055 (codified at 34 U.S.C. 61101), is to expand investigative and prosecutorial capacity and improve intergovernmental coordination so jurisdictions can more effectively investigate and prosecute covered offenses. In practical terms, the grant seeks to increase the supply of prosecutors who are positioned, authorized, and available to pursue these cases with federal partners, helping ensure that complex matters involving fraud and other crimes, as well as drug and human trafficking, can be handled with stronger resourcing and tighter federal-state-local collaboration.
Eligible applicants include state governments, county governments, city or township governments, and federally recognized Native American tribal governments, along with certain other eligible entities noted by the program. The notice also clarifies that "other units of local government" can include general-purpose political subdivisions such as towns, boroughs, parishes, and villages. The opportunity is listed under CFDA number 16.076. The funding opportunity number is O-BJA-2026-172639, and the original application closing date is June 17, 2026, with a creation date of June 5, 2026. The published award ceiling is $300,000,000, and awards are expected but the number of expected awards is not specified in the provided source data.Apply for O BJA 2026 172639
- The Bureau of Justice Assistance in the law, justice and legal services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "OJP FY 2026 Special Attorneys Program Round 3" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 16.076.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-06-05.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-06-17. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $300,000,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Others.
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FAQs: OJP FY 2026 Special Attorneys Program (Round 3)
What is the OJP FY 2026 Special Attorneys Program Round 3?
It is a discretionary funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Justice Programs (OJP), administered by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA). The program supports prosecuting agencies in dedicating prosecutors to federally supported casework and coordination with federal authorities.
Is this a grant or a cooperative agreement?
The opportunity is offered as a cooperative agreement. This typically means awardees should expect close coordination with federal partners during implementation.
What is the main goal of this program?
The program is designed to strengthen the ability of state, local, Tribal, and territorial prosecuting agencies to work alongside federal authorities by dedicating prosecutors to federally supported casework focused on fraud and other crimes committed by aliens within the United States (referred to in the notice as "criminal aliens").
What types of cases does the program focus on?
The core focus is on fraud and other crimes committed by aliens within the United States (described as "criminal aliens"). The notice also mentions additional potential assignments involving drug trafficking and human trafficking cases occurring within the United States.
What does "cross-designation" mean in this program?
Cross-designation is the model under which participating prosecutor offices assign existing prosecutors or hire qualified prosecutors to serve in federal-style roles while still remaining employees of their home agencies. These prosecutors work in coordination with federal entities and may operate under DOJ direction or within a U.S. Attorney's Office, depending on the assignment.
What roles can funded prosecutors serve in under this program?
Under the cross-designation model, prosecutors may serve either (1) as Special Attorneys operating under the direction of DOJ components such as the National Fraud Enforcement Division or the Criminal Division, or (2) as Special Assistant United States Attorneys (SAUSAs) embedded within a U.S. Attorney's Office.
Do Special Attorneys or SAUSAs become federal employees?
No. Even though they take on federal-style roles and work in coordination with federal entities, they remain employees of their home agencies for the duration of the appointment.
Who supervises the prosecutors funded through this program?
The notice indicates that day-to-day logistics, case selection, supervision structure, and local operational considerations are expected to be worked out collaboratively on a case-by-case basis between the DOJ components involved and the selected prosecuting agencies.
How will case selection and operational details be handled?
Case selection, daily logistics, supervision structure, and local operational considerations are expected to be determined collaboratively on a case-by-case basis by the relevant DOJ components and the selected prosecuting agencies.
What is the legal authority for this program?
The stated purpose is authorized by Public Law 119-21, Title X, Subtitle A, Part II, Section 100055 (codified at 34 U.S.C. 61101).
What does the program aim to improve at a system level?
The program aims to expand investigative and prosecutorial capacity and improve intergovernmental coordination so jurisdictions can more effectively investigate and prosecute covered offenses.
Who is administering this funding opportunity?
The program is administered by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) within the Office of Justice Programs (OJP), U.S. Department of Justice.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include state governments, county governments, city or township governments, and federally recognized Native American tribal governments, along with certain other eligible entities noted by the program.
What does the notice mean by "other units of local government"?
The notice clarifies that "other units of local government" can include general-purpose political subdivisions such as towns, boroughs, parishes, and villages.
Does the program include Tribal and territorial prosecuting agencies?
The program is described as designed to strengthen the ability of state, local, Tribal, and territorial prosecuting agencies to work alongside federal authorities, and federally recognized Native American tribal governments are listed among eligible applicants.
What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA number 16.076.
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is O-BJA-2026-172639.
When was this opportunity created?
The creation date listed for the opportunity is June 5, 2026.
What is the application closing date?
The original application closing date is June 17, 2026.
What is the award ceiling for this opportunity?
The published award ceiling is $300,000,000.
How many awards will be made?
The provided source data indicates that awards are expected, but the number of expected awards is not specified.
Is this funding meant to hire new prosecutors or assign existing staff?
The notice states that participating prosecutor offices can assign existing prosecutors or hire qualified prosecutors to serve in the covered roles.
What DOJ components might Special Attorneys work under?
The notice provides examples including DOJ components such as the National Fraud Enforcement Division or the Criminal Division.
Where do SAUSAs work under this program?
SAUSAs under this program are described as being embedded within a U.S. Attorney's Office.
Does this opportunity emphasize collaboration with federal partners?
Yes. The cooperative agreement structure and the cross-designation model both emphasize close coordination, with implementation details and supervision arrangements worked out collaboratively between DOJ components and participating prosecuting agencies.
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