[ST. PAUL, MN] – Governor Tim Walz today sent a letter to U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem urging her to restore the Targeted Violence and Terrorism Prevention grant, which was abruptly cancelled in July. The letter follows earlier appeals from Department of Public Safety Commissioner Bob Jacobson and Minnesota’s congressional delegation, including Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith, and Representatives Angie Craig, Betty McCollum, Ilhan Omar, and Kelly Morrison.

“As Minnesota grieves the lives lost and upended by the violence that struck Annunciation Church on August 27, we must commit to taking every possible step to prevent and catch violent individuals before they are able to carry out such destruction,” said Governor Walz. “The solutions will be comprehensive and must include serious action on gun violence. But the termination of this funding cut in half the very team that would have investigated this violent individual and has already disrupted Minnesota’s prevention work. I strongly urge Secretary Noem to reconsider the decision to cancel this funding.”

The $700,000 Targeted Violence and Terrorism Prevention grant supported critical anti-terrorism and violence prevention efforts in Minnesota. It funded positions at the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) within the Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management team. The loss of funding forced a reallocation of resources from other projects and the cancellation of a planned training for local law enforcement that would have strengthened counterterrorism and targeted violence prevention.

In July, Minnesota Department of Public Safety Commissioner Bob Jacobson wrote to Minnesota’s congressional delegation warning of the implications of losing the funding used to examine individuals who engage in concerning behaviors and are on the potential pathway to violence.

The Governor is continuing to meet with legislative leaders to discuss a potential special session on public safety and gun violence prevention.

The full text of the Governor’s letter is below.

The Honorable Kristi Noem
Secretary of Homeland Security
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
3801 Nebraska Ave NW
Washington, DC 20528 

Dear Secretary Noem, 

I am writing to express my deep concern over the Department of Homeland Security’s decision to terminate Minnesota’s Targeted Violence and Terrorism Prevention (TVTP) grant without warning. Minnesota’s congressional delegation has already raised this issue with you, underscoring the importance of this program to the safety of our state. 

The $700,000 TVTP grant supported critical violence prevention work at the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. It funded half of the positions on the Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management team, which is designed to examine individuals who engage in concerning behaviors that are on the potential pathway to violence. It also funded statewide training for local law enforcement. The loss of these funds has already forced those efforts to be canceled, leaving Minnesota less prepared to prevent acts of targeted violence and terrorism. 

Tragedies like the murder of Mark and Melissa Hortman and the shooting at Annunciation School highlight the devastating cost of failing to act. You have had multiple opportunities to take action and ensure resources are in place to prevent incidents like these. The loss of the TVTP grant only increases the risk of more harm. To protect our communities and prevent future violence, I urge you to reevaluate this decision and recognize the indispensable role this program plays in public safety. 

Sincerely,
Tim Walz
Governor of Minnesota