Justice Department Grant Cancellations Affect Public Safety Organizations
Six months following the U.S. Justice Department's cancellation of over $800 million in federal grant money, numerous recipient organizations have reported operational adjustments. These reductions specifically targeted community safety initiatives across the country.
The affected programs included:
- School violence prevention
- Training for rural law enforcement officers
- Resources for victims of domestic violence
- Hate crime prevention efforts
Attorney General Pam Bondi stated at the time that the department was eliminating "wasteful grants," citing efforts geared toward transgender and LGBTQ communities as examples.
Organizational Impact
NPR engaged with ten organizations impacted by these cancellations. While a minority reported their grants were reactivated, the majority indicated consequences such as employee layoffs, utilization of reserve funds, or a reduction in offered services.
Amy Solomon, a senior fellow at the Council on Criminal Justice and former head of the DOJ's Office of Justice Programs, noted that federal grants typically entail a commitment for the full awarded amount, upon which organizations base their planning, budgeting, and hiring decisions. The grants in question were terminated mid-cycle.
Case Examples
At Washington Technology High School in St. Paul, Minnesota, Principal Elias Oguz experienced the termination of a grant-funded position designed for violence prevention. The "Stop The Violence" grant had enabled the school to employ Robyn Strowder as a restorative practices coordinator. To maintain the position, Oguz allocated $50,000 from school supply funds, supplemented by district contributions and community donations. The long-term funding source for the role remains unconfirmed.
Virginia-based nonprofit Strength In Peers, which supports individuals with substance use and mental health challenges, reported laying off two employees. The organization had expended approximately $90,000 from the terminated grant and is awaiting reimbursement for over half of that sum.
Numerous organizations interviewed by NPR stated they had not been reimbursed for funds already spent prior to the cancellations. Additionally, appeals against the cancellations have reportedly received no response. Several organizations have initiated legal action against the administration, asserting the cancellations were unlawful and seeking reimbursement for outstanding expenses.
The Justice Department issued a statement attributing delays in appeal consideration and reimbursements to an ongoing government shutdown. However, the grant cancellations occurred five months prior to the shutdown.
Policy Perspective
Amy Solomon observed that almost all grant reductions affected nonprofit organizations. She indicated this suggests a departmental perspective prioritizing police as the primary entity for community safety, rather than viewing community-based organizations as complementary to law enforcement.
Following the grant cancellations, DOJ officials communicated to Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley that the cuts predominantly impacted nonprofits and "not to states or local jurisdictions that directly serve our communities." Solomon characterized this rationale as "flawed," emphasizing the significant role nonprofits play in their communities.
Everette Penn, co-founder and former director of the Teen and Police Service Academy in Houston, reported a reduction in staff at his mentoring program. Penn stated that government sector funding often supports initiatives not covered by the private sector but deemed essential for societal function.
Dwight Robson, executive vice president of operations at Roca, a community violence intervention group, was informed by the DOJ that Roca's work "no longer effectuates" the administration's priorities. Robson contended that Roca's focus on combatting violent crime and protecting children aligns with the DOJ's stated objectives. He expressed a willingness for performance review, believing it would demonstrate alignment. Roca eliminated approximately 50 positions and is exploring alternative funding sources. Robson expressed concern regarding the sustained viability of other community safety groups.