Faith-Based Daily Awareness Post 24 April 2025

These updates are shared to help raise the situational awareness of Faith-Based organizations to best defend against and mitigate the impacts from all-hazards threats including physical security, cybersecurity, and natural disasters. 

US Justice Department cancels hundreds of grants for police, crime victims  

The U.S. Justice Department has abruptly canceled at least 365 grants from its largest grant-making division, the Office of Justice Programs, affecting initiatives that supported police mental health, crime victims (including transgender individuals), human trafficking survivors, juvenile delinquency prevention, and hate-crime reporting. FB-ISAO was among the organizations who had a grant cancelled.  

These cuts, which occurred without warning, reflect the priorities of President Donald Trump’s administration, according to Attorney General Pam Bondi. While affected grantees were given 30 days to appeal, many organizations expressed concern over the severe impact on services like hotlines, shelter programs, and re-entry initiatives. Though the department claims it aimed to preserve core victim services and target only programs it deemed misaligned with its goals, critics argue the decision will leave vulnerable populations at greater risk. The cuts did not yet affect all Justice Department grant offices, such as the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services. 

Analyst Comments: In today’s uncertain funding environment, especially following the recent cancellation of federal grants, churches involved in community service face growing pressure to adapt. Dependence on government support has become increasingly precarious, particularly for programs tied to social justice and marginalized communities. Many faith-based organizations are exploring alternative sources of support ranging from private philanthropy to local partnerships—as a way to maintain their outreach. Collaborations among churches and with nonprofit groups appear to be gaining traction, offering opportunities for shared resources and a unified voice in the public sphere. At the same time, there’s a growing emphasis on demonstrating measurable impact, as both funders and policymakers seek evidence of effectiveness. As shifts in national priorities continue, churches remain uniquely positioned to influence the conversation around community care and justice.  

Cyber Criminals Exploit Pope Francis Death to Launch Global Scams 

Cybercriminals are exploiting false news about Pope Francis’s death to launch a wave of global scams, according to Check Point Research. These attacks use emotionally charged fake news and AI-generated images to trick users on platforms like TikTok and Instagram, luring them to phishing sites that impersonate legitimate pages such as Google. The scams aim to steal personal information or push fraudulent offers, such as fake gift cards. This tactic, known as “cyber threat opportunism,” reflects a broader trend of attackers capitalizing on major news events to manipulate public curiosity and spread malicious content. 

Analyst Comments: Cybercriminals know that emotionally charged events like the death of a world figure can lower guards. These scams rely on people acting before thinking. With the rise of generative AI, fake images, voiceovers, and video clips this can allow scams to appear authentic. It is important to verify before you click, think before sharing, use multi-layer security, and stay educated on tactics that can be used to scam. 

Resources:

• How To Recognize and Avoid Phishing Scams 
• Protecting Yourself from Scams