OJP FY 2026 Special Attorneys Program Round 9 | O BJA 2026 172762

FAQs: OJP FY 2026 Special Attorneys Program (Round 9)

What is the official name of this funding opportunity?

The official title is OJP FY 2026 Special Attorneys Program Round 9.

What agency is offering this grant opportunity?

This is a discretionary funding opportunity from the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), within the Office of Justice Programs (OJP).

What type of award is this?

The opportunity is offered through a cooperative agreement.

What is the purpose of the Special Attorneys Program?

The program is intended to strengthen the ability of state, local, Tribal, and territorial prosecuting agencies to work directly with federal partners on complex criminal cases by supporting the assignment or hiring of qualified prosecutors who can be cross-designated for federally coordinated work.

Which federal partners are involved in this program?

The NOFO describes coordination with federal partners that include the Department of Justice Criminal Division, the National Fraud Enforcement Division, and U.S. Attorney's Offices.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligible applicants include state governments, county governments, city or township governments, federally recognized Native American tribal governments, and certain other units of local government.

What does "other units of local government" mean for this NOFO?

For purposes of this NOFO, "other units of local government" includes general-purpose political subdivisions such as towns, boroughs, parishes, and villages.

What kinds of positions can be supported with grant funds?

Grant funds can support qualified prosecutors who will be cross-designated, and can also be used to hire or support criminal investigators and specialized investigative support staff such as analysts and forensic accountants, as well as other personnel who contribute to collecting, developing, and analyzing investigative information.

What does it mean for prosecutors to be "cross-designated" under this program?

The program supports prosecutors who can be cross-designated to serve either as Special Attorneys operating under the direction of the DOJ Criminal Division or the National Fraud Enforcement Division, or as Special Assistant United States Attorneys (SAUSAs) embedded within a U.S. Attorney's Office.

What is the difference between a Special Attorney and a SAUSA in this program?

Under this opportunity, cross-designated prosecutors may serve in one of two ways: (1) as Special Attorneys operating under the direction of DOJ components such as the Criminal Division or National Fraud Enforcement Division, or (2) as SAUSAs embedded within a U.S. Attorney's Office. Both roles are designed to improve coordination and capacity on complex cases, but they differ in where the prosecutor is operationally situated and directed.

What types of cases are a major focus of the program?

A major focus is investigating and prosecuting fraud and other crimes committed by aliens within the United States, described in the NOFO as involving "criminal aliens."

Are any other crime categories included besides fraud involving "criminal aliens"?

Yes. The NOFO indicates that cross-designated personnel may also be assigned to cases involving drug trafficking or human trafficking occurring within the United States.

Can supported prosecutors work part-time, or must they be full-time?

The program is described as flexible, allowing prosecutors to serve full-time or part-time on a case-by-case basis depending on investigative needs, case complexity, and local circumstances.

Who decides how the supported personnel will be deployed?

Deployment is structured to be flexible and coordinated with federal partners. The NOFO states that federal partners, including DOJ components and U.S. Attorney's Offices, will coordinate with selected prosecutor offices to work through logistics and jurisdiction-specific implementation issues.

Do cross-designated prosecutors and staff become federal employees?

No. Even when cross-designated, prosecutors and staff supported under the program remain employees of their home agencies throughout the appointment period, while taking on federally coordinated responsibilities tied to assigned cases.

Why does the program also support investigators and specialized support staff?

The NOFO emphasizes that prosecuting sophisticated fraud, trafficking, and related crimes often depends on more than courtroom staffing. Strong investigative capacity, financial analysis, and intelligence support are highlighted as practical needs, which is why the grant can support investigators, analysts, forensic accountants, and similar roles.

What is the statutory authority for this program?

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

Beyond staffing, what broader outcomes is the program intended to support?

The statutory intent described in the NOFO includes improving how law enforcement investigative information is collected and analyzed, strengthening investigative and prosecutorial capacity, expanding intergovernmental coordination, and enhancing the ability of jurisdictions to counter gang or other criminal activity.

What is the funding opportunity number?

The funding opportunity number is O-BJA-2026-172762.

What is the CFDA number listed for this opportunity?

The CFDA number listed is 16.076.

What is the application deadline?

The application closing date listed is October 8, 2026.

What is the maximum (ceiling) award amount?

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

When was this opportunity created (posted)?

The opportunity was created on September 24, 2026.

What overall problem is this program trying to solve?

Based on the NOFO description, the program is aimed at improving prosecutorial capacity and coordination between local jurisdictions and federal authorities for complex cases in priority areas by increasing the availability of cross-designated prosecutors and strengthening the investigative support needed to develop and prosecute those cases.