Concord, N.H. – Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander, alongside Senator Shaheen, Senator Hassan, and Congressman Pappas, is urging U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem to reconsider the termination of the Franklin School District’s $486,386 Targeted Violence and Terrorism Prevention (TVTP) grant. The grant, initially awarded in September 2024, was intended to support professional development and preventative measures against violence in schools and among students. In July, the Trump Administration terminated the grant, upending the district’s budget and forcing them to cancel planned safety trainings.
The Congressional delegation wrote, in part: “As members of the New Hampshire Congressional Delegation, we write to urge the Department of Homeland Security to reconsider the termination of the Targeted Violence and Terrorism Prevention (TVTP) Program grant award to NH School Administrative Unit #18 [the Franklin, NH School District].”
They continued: “On July 21st, the Department notified the school district of the termination of its grant. The letter from the Department claims that this grant was terminated because of its ‘potential to support activities not aligned with DHS’s current focus.’ Yet, according to DHS’s website on the program, ‘the TVTP Grant Program provides financial assistance to develop sustainable, multi-disciplinary prevention capabilities in local communities,’ in consultation with ‘mental health providers, educators… [and] social services… to help people who are on a pathway to violence before harm occurs.’ Franklin’s project precisely meets those objectives by equipping educators and administrators with the resources to understand the factors driving violence at schools and empowering students to take positive steps toward a constructive school culture.”
They concluded: “Ensuring that students have a safe and supportive learning environment with well-trained staff who are able to meet students’ mental and behavioral health needs must be a shared priority. In light of these considerations, we ask that the Department reverse its decision to terminate the Franklin School District’s grant.”
The letter can be read in full HERE.
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