Trump’s cuts to intervention programs could increase violent crime, experts say
Summary
The Trump administration cut over $800 million in federal funding for programs that help prevent gun violence and community violence intervention. Experts worry these cuts could cause violent crime to increase again, despite recent drops in homicides that started before Trump returned to office.Key Facts
- The Department of Justice cut more than $800 million in grants for violence prevention programs in April 2025.
- The cuts were justified by focusing more on prosecuting criminals instead of prevention.
- Homicides in the US increased sharply during the Covid-19 pandemic but have dropped by 25% in 2025 compared to 2019.
- Some experts say community intervention programs are better at reducing violence than just arrests.
- Violent crime dropped even in cities where the national guard was not deployed, challenging claims that troop deployments caused the decline.
- The Biden administration passed the Safer Communities Act in 2022, allocating $250 million for community violence prevention.
- The Trump administration ended grants to groups that helped mediate conflicts and prevent shootings in cities like Baltimore and Los Angeles.
- Experts link the rise in violence during the pandemic to economic hardship and school closures affecting young men in poor neighborhoods.
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