The previous U.S. administration under Donald Trump has made drastic cuts to the budget allocation for programs aimed at curbing gun violence, slashing funds by $158 million. This significant reduction resulted in impacted organizations spread across urban centers such as New York, Los Angeles, Baltimore, Chicago, and Washington, DC. These cities were previously beneficiaries of 145 community violence intervention (CVI) grants issued by the U.S. Department of Justice, collectively amounting to a sum upwards of $300 million. However, as of April, 69 of these grants have faced abrupt discontinuation.
This financial culling of CVI initiatives is only part of a wider trend seen in the department’s Office of Justice Programs. Responsible for issuing these grants, the Office has withdrawn a staggering 365 grants in April, the combined value peaking at around $811 million. This move has had far-reaching effects, touching diverse facets of public safety initiatives and services catering to victims.
Explaining this drastic action, a representative from the Department of Justice remarked that the specific gun violence grants were discontinued because they no longer ‘aligned with the goals of the program or the agency’s current priorities.’ Thousands of similar programs facilitated by the Office of Justice Programs grants are currently under stringent review. Their continued relevance and effectiveness in aiding law enforcement and curbing violent crime will be assessed.
The lion’s share of these CVI grants were originally sanctioned under the 2022 Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. This act was an initiative driven by former President Joe Biden in response to the spiking levels of gun-related violence in the country. Consequently, the first-ever White House Office for Gun Violence Prevention was established, but it was promptly ‘disassembled on day one’ following Trump’s entrance to the office.
In the period preceding this federal level intervention, majority of programs focused on gun violence prevention predominantly relied on state-level funding. Five years prior, if programs of this nature existed, they typically operated on minimal budgets and rarely had access to substantial federal investments amounting to millions.
The CVI grants which are now at risk encompass a broad spectrum of preventative measures against shootings. These measures include training for outreach teams, equipping them with skills to de-escalate and mediate potential conflict situations. Social workers are also benefitted, as the grants enable them to link people with essential services and employment opportunities. Additionally, it provides special assistance for hospital-based programs tailored for victims of gun violence.
Statistic records indicate a troubling rise in deaths caused by gun violence in the U.S., ranging from 2015 to the peak in 2021, with a rise exceeding 50%, resulting in 21,383 fatalities. However, reports suggest a hopeful decline in such incidents since that peak.
While a majority of the funding intended to prevent gun violence was directed towards high-density cities such as New York City, Chicago and Los Angeles, southern cities were not disregarded. Locations like Memphis, Baton Rouge in Louisiana and Selma in Alabama have received commendable financial support, due to their limited state-level resources.
The recent funding cuts place the consistent progress of community violence intervention efforts in precarious danger. These initiatives, firmly established and rooted within predominantly Black and Latino communities, have required years to develop. Their continuity no longer appears certain in light of the current financial climate.
CVI programs have not been without their critics, with detractors arguing that these efforts have shown minimal effectiveness. Some believe that a better application of federal money would be aimed at bolstering law enforcement as a means to curb gun violence.
Certain groups have also expressed concerns that these interventions are ‘anti-gun’ in nature, and have critiqued them as ‘channels that merely filter federal tax revenue into anti-gun non-profit entities which campaign against our rights.’ This perspective, however, isn’t universally held by all stakeholders within law enforcement.
Earlier in June, correspondence bearing the signatures of 18 law enforcement organizations hailing from cities like Louisville, Tucson, Minneapolis, and Omaha, was directed towards the Attorney General. The letter pleaded for a reinstatement of funding proven to significantly ‘reduce instances of violence and homicides.’
Defending the measure, they state, ‘These programs are not simply ornamental; they are essential, life-saving strategies that enhance the effectiveness of law enforcement.’ They insist on the effectiveness of these interventions, referencing their track record.
Now, in the wake of depleted funding at the federal level, the onus falls on the organizations to strategize means to sustain their operations. With monetary reserves running dry, figuring out how to keep their initiatives alive is the immediate challenge.
The post Trump’s Administration Slashes Funds Reserved for Gun Violence Programmes appeared first on Real News Now.
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