Tribal Special Assistant United States Attorneys
Active
- Assistance listing
- 16.055
- Agency
-
Offices Boards and Divisions
Department of Justice
- Grant awards
- 11 $11,226,666 in federal obligations
Program facts
- Also known as
- Tribal SAUSA
- Assistance type
-
- Project Grant
- Treasury account
-
- 15-0409-0-1-754
- More information
Program details come from SAM.gov Assistance Listings. Updated . Grant award figures come from USAspending.gov.
About this program
The Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women funds the cross-designation of tribal prosecutors as Special Assistant United States Attorneys to investigate and prosecute violence-against-women crimes in Indian country, under Assistance Listing 16.055, with the most recent grant awards issued on October 1, 2025.
The program funds salary, fringe benefits, training, travel, and operational support for dedicated tribal prosecutors who are jointly designated as both tribal prosecutors and federal SAUSAs to maintain active caseloads in their respective jurisdictions. The crimes addressed include domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, sex trafficking, and stalking. Funded work is intended to fill jurisdictional gaps, improve coordination among tribal, federal, and state law enforcement agencies, and strengthen case quality through training and best practices.
Activity has remained steady since the program's inception in fiscal 2023. The portfolio shows 11 awards over three fiscal years (2023: 5 awards; 2024: 3 awards; 2025: 3 awards), with all $11.2 million in combined federal obligations concentrated in the Office on Violence Against Women. All awards are structured as Project Grants. Recent award magnitudes range from approximately $830 thousand to $1.5 million per award, with award terms extending five years. Representative recent awards include the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma partnering with the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Oklahoma, Eastern ($1.5 million, October 2025); the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin with the Eastern District of Wisconsin USAO ($826,667, October 2025); and the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska with the District of Nebraska USAO ($1 million, October 2025).
An invitation-to-apply opportunity (Solicitation O-OVW-2026-172660) posted September 1, 2026, with a due date of September 15, 2026, is restricted to three eligible applicants: the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, and the Yurok Tribe of the Yurok Reservation, California. Eligible applicants must be federally recognized tribal governments in partnership with a United States Attorney's Office. Renewals are considered case-by-case. Applicants receive notification by fiscal year end, and awards require acceptance through an online system managed by the Office on Violence Against Women.
Objective and description
- Objective
Tribal SAUSA is an initiative to support cross-designation of tribal prosecutors as Tribal Special Assistant United States Attorneys.
- Description
This program will support tribes and USAOs in their investigation and prosecution of Indian country cases involving sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking. Tribes will receive funds to work with their USAO partner to hire or retain a mutually agreed upon attorney to be cross-deputized as both a Special Assistant United States Attorney (SAUSA) and a tribal prosecutor.
Eligibility
- Applicant eligibility
Eligible applicants are tribal governments in partnership with United States Attorneys' Offices.
- Credentials and documentation
Specific criteria for the program are provided in an annual notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) available at www.justice.gov/ovw.
- Uses of assistance
Funds may be used to support cross-designation of tribal prosecutors as Tribal Special Assistant United States Attorneys.
- Length and time phasing of assistance
Information regarding length of awards will be included in an annual notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) for the program.
How to apply
- Criteria for selecting proposals
Criteria is specified in the program notice of funding opportunity (NOFO).
- Award procedure
Upon approval by the Office on Violence Against Women, online notification is sent to the applicant agency. The Authorized Representative must accept the award online.
- Time to approval or disapproval
Applicants will be notified by the end of the fiscal year.
- Renewals
Renewals are considered on a case-by-case basis.
Grant opportunities
Grant awards
Latest 10 of 11 listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Top recipients by federal obligations
| Rank | Recipient | Federal obligations | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Choctaw Nation Of Oklahoma | $1,500,000 | 13% |
| 2 | Kalispel Indian Community Of The Kalispel Reservation | $1,250,000 | 11% |
| 3 | Confederated Tribes Of Warm Springs Reservation Of Oregon | $1,250,000 | 11% |
| 4 | Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community | $1,250,000 | 11% |
| 5 | Winnebago Tribe Of Nebraska | $1,000,000 | 9% |
| 6 | Colorado River Indian Tribes | $830,000 | 7% |
| 7 | Blackfeet Tribe Of The Blackfeet Indian Reservation | $830,000 | 7% |
| 8 | Chickasaw Nation | $830,000 | 7% |
| 9 | Southern Ute Indian Tribe | $830,000 | 7% |
| 10 | Mississippi Band Of Choctaw Indians | $829,999 | 7% |
10 of 11 recipients listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Federal obligations by fiscal year
| Fiscal year | Federal obligations |
|---|---|
| FY2026 | $3,326,667 |
| FY2024 | $3,750,000 |
| FY2023 | $4,149,999 |
Quick answers
What is Assistance Listing 16.055?
Assistance Listing 16.055 is Tribal Special Assistant United States Attorneys, a federal grant program run by Offices Boards and Divisions (Department of Justice).
What is the CFDA number for Tribal Special Assistant United States Attorneys?
Its CFDA number is 16.055: Assistance Listing numbers were called CFDA numbers before 2018.
How much funding has Assistance Listing 16.055 awarded?
11 grant awards under 16.055 have obligated $11,226,666 in federal funds to 11 recipients.
Who receives the most funding from 16.055?
The recipients obligated the most under Tribal Special Assistant United States Attorneys are Choctaw Nation Of Oklahoma ($1,500,000), Kalispel Indian Community Of The Kalispel Reservation ($1,250,000) and Confederated Tribes Of Warm Springs Reservation Of Oregon ($1,250,000).
Are there open grant opportunities under 16.055?
No opportunity listed under 16.055 is open now. The latest, OVW Fiscal Year 2026 Violence Against Women Tribal Special Assistant U.S. Attorney (SAUSA) Initiative - Invitation to Apply, was posted on September 1, 2026.
On GovTribe
See this program's full record
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