Pat Ryan Failure Tour: Day 2 — Ryan Announced the Same $785,000 for Bodycams Three Times, DOJ Still Says Orange County Is “Invited to Apply”

Kingston, NY - September 22, 2026 — Since 2024 Congressman Pat Ryan has publicly touted the same $785,000 for Orange County Jail body cameras three separate times - first before the money was enacted, later as funding he had “secured,” and finally as money he had “delivered.”

Today, however, The Department of Justice still lists the County of Orange - Orange County Jail Body Cameras - $785,000 on its FY2026 “Invited to Apply” project list.

“Sadly, it’s no surprise. Ryan has a record of deceiving voters on everything from where he lives, what he believes in, and what he has actually done,” said Jackie Auringer.

In first announcing the funds Ryan said, “I’m fighting every day to bolster public safety across the Hudson Valley...working hand-in-hand with our local leaders...”

“The only thing more empty than Pat Ryan’s new found love affair with the cop hating radicals of the DSA is his record of keeping his promises,” said Auringer.

ANNOUNCED. SECURED. DELIVERED. INVITED TO APPLY.

Timeline: $785,000 Orange County Jail Body Camera Funding

• September 2024 — Rep. Pat Ryan announces $785,000 for 200 body-worn cameras at the Orange County Jail. The announcement itself notes the funding still requires final passage of the FY2025 government funding bill.
• FY2025 — The funding bill does not pass with this project included. Ryan's office later confirms the jail camera funding was left out.
• May 1, 2025 — The Orange County Legislature adopts Resolution No. 113, authorizing $1.2 million in county bonds to fund body cameras and equipment for the jail itself, without waiting on federal money.
• August 2025 — Ryan again publicizes the same $785,000, this time describing it as funding he has "secured." The announcement itself notes he is still urging federal officials to allocate the money.
• January 23, 2026 — The $785,000 becomes law as part of enacted FY2026 Commerce-Justice-Science appropriations, with Ryan listed as the House requestor.
• May 13, 2026 — Ryan issues a release describing nearly $6 million "delivered" to local law enforcement, again listing the $785,000 for Orange County Jail Body Cameras. All of the grants announced by Ryan as “delivered” are still in application phase.
• Current status — As of this writing, DOJ's FY2026 Byrne Discretionary project list still shows Orange County's $785,000 jail-camera project under "Invited to Apply" — the step where the recipient applies for the money, which precedes any disbursement.

Net effect: Ryan publicized the same $785,000 three times over roughly 20 months - before it existed, when it was still unenacted, and again as "delivered" - while the county funded the actual project itself through $1.2 million in its own bonds.

Concluded Auringer, “While Ryan was running a three-lap victory lap around an empty stadium, Orange County leaders decided to stop playing the game and took the steps to invest to make their communities safer. The Hudson Valley deserves better.”