# Understanding the SERVICE Act of 2025

This bill creates a new federal grant program to help police departments set up special teams focused on responding to veterans in crisis. The federal government, through the Attorney General's office, will offer money to states, cities, and tribal governments that want to establish these "veterans response teams" within their police departments. The program is designed to run for five years, from 2026 through 2030, using existing federal law enforcement grant funding.

The veterans response teams would be made up of police officers (ideally some who are veterans themselves), community volunteers, and representatives from veteran organizations and the VA. These teams would respond to emergency calls involving veterans who are in crisis—situations where a veteran might be experiencing a mental health emergency, suicidal thoughts, or other trauma-related issues. The teams would receive special training on military-related mental health conditions like PTSD, traumatic brain injury, and depression so they can respond more effectively than standard police might. The bill also encourages these teams to wear special pins identifying their military service branch and to build relationships with local veterans courts and the VA so they can connect veterans with available services and support.

The practical effect would be that some communities could have specially trained responders available around the clock to handle veteran-related emergencies in a way that prioritizes de-escalation and connecting people with help rather than traditional law enforcement responses. This could mean a veteran experiencing a mental health crisis gets support from someone who understands military service rather than a standard police response. However, the program is voluntary—communities have to apply for the grants and choose to participate. The bill also requires the Attorney General to report back to Congress on how the program is working, including how many communities applied, how many received funding, and what results they're seeing.