The "Invest to Protect Act of 2025" establishes a grant program within the Department of Justice's Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) to support local and Tribal law enforcement agencies. This program targets agencies employing fewer than 175 law enforcement officers, aiming to enhance their capabilities and officer well-being. The primary goals are to provide training, improve access to mental health resources for officers, and strengthen recruitment and retention efforts.

Eligible activities for grant funds are diverse, encompassing various types of training such as de-escalation, victim-centered approaches for domestic violence, and evidence-based safety training for situations like active shooters or calls involving individuals with mental health needs. Grants can also cover overtime costs associated with training, offer signing and retention bonuses for officers, and provide stipends for graduate education in mental health or social work. Furthermore, funds can be used to provide access to patient-centered behavioral health services for officers, including trauma-informed care and peer support.

To ensure accessibility, the bill directs the Attorney General to develop a streamlined application process that can be completed in under two hours, with technical assistance available to applicants. Grant recipients are subject to reasonable reporting requirements, tailored to the capacity of smaller agencies. The bill also mandates public disclosure of officer bonuses and an annual report to Congress on these disclosures.

Crucially, the legislation includes strong accountability provisions. The Department of Justice's Inspector General will conduct regular audits of grant recipients to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse. Agencies with unresolved audit findings will face mandatory exclusion from receiving future grants for three fiscal years, and the Attorney General must certify annually to Congress regarding audit compliance and exclusions. An annual program evaluation will assess the efficacy of funded initiatives, and measures are in place to prevent duplicative grants. The bill authorizes $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030 to carry out this program.