Booker, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Prevent Politicization of Public Safety Grants

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), and Mazie Hirono (D-HI) introduced the Federal Grant Neutrality Act, legislation designed to stop the politicization of Department of Justice (DOJ) federal grants and prevent the DOJ from imposing unfair conditions on jurisdictions represented by Democrats. The bill ensures that grants cannot be withheld to punish jurisdictions for refusing to enforce partisan federal immigration policies.

For years, DOJ grants have been essential for state, local, and Tribal law enforcement to reduce violent crime and support crime victims. Since January 2025, however, DOJ has tied these funds to partisan immigration policies and political directives, forcing jurisdictions to implement the Administration's political agenda for federal funding. This is meant to coerce sovereign state and local governments-especially those led by Democrats-into prioritizing federal mandates over local safety needs, undermining law enforcement, jeopardizing public safety, and triggering costly legal battles, repeating practices courts have already ruled exceed executive authority.

The only way to meaningfully support law enforcement efforts to reduce violent crime and support victims while preserving jurisdictional autonomy and resisting unlawful executive mandates is to prohibit the Attorney General from conditioning grant eligibility. Anything lesscondones President Trump's misuse and militarization of law enforcement, his unlawful immigration enforcement practices, and his blatant disregard for public safety and the rule of law.

"DOJ federal grants are vital to the safety of Americans nationwide because local communities rely on these funds to support law enforcement and violence-reduction programs," said Senator Booker. "It is shameful and reckless that the Trump administration is weaponizing public safety grants for political gain, undermining law enforcement and putting lives at risk. This bill ensures communities remain safe by allowing them to receive critical public safety funds without being forced to serve a political agenda."

"The Trump administration's decision to withhold funding that helps keep our communities safe, reduce crime, and support law enforcement is unacceptable," said Senator Luján. "I'm proud to join my colleagues in introducing legislation to ensure partisan politics never stand in the way of the resources our communities need. No family's safety should depend on whether or not the Trump administration decides their community deserves protection."

"Public safety grants should be based on public safety needs, not on whether states and localities agree with the political preferences of the President," said Senator Kaine. "This legislation would make sure that the Trump Administration - or any Administration for that matter - can't attach new strings to public safety grants without Congress and turn these grants into political cudgels."

"By withholding funding for public safety grants, the Trump administration is dangerously attempting to single out and punish Democratic-led states - including California - for not going along with his cruel and indiscriminate immigration agenda. I am proud to support legislation to challenge this lawless and partisan political tactic and the administration's broader retribution campaign, because every community deserves to be safe," said Senator Schiff.

To read the full text of the bill, click here.