The Trump White House

St. Croix Times Staff

Trump Cuts 373 Gun Violence

Prevention Grants

When President Trump ran for office violent crime was actually trending down in America but he presented a picture of unbridled crime as he criss-crossed the country on the campaign trail in 2024. Now his Administration has eliminated $500 million in grants to organizations that buttress public safety, including many working to prevent gun violence. 

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) abruptly terminated 373 grants in April 2025. The lion’s share of those were designated for community-based violence intervention programs that range from conflict mediation and de-escalation to hospital-based initiatives that seek to prevent retaliation from people who experience violent injuries. 

Medical experts claim that gun violence is one of America’s most deadly public health crises.

Among the programs whose grants were terminated were those for protecting children, victims’ assistance, hate-crime prevention and law enforcement and prosecution. The grants had been awarded through the DOJ’s Office of Justice Programs.

“Not only are these funds being pulled away from worthy investments that will save lives,” said Thomas Abt, founding Director of the Violence Reduction Center at the University of Maryland. “But the way that this was done - by pulling authorized funding without warning  - is going to create a lasting legacy of mistrust.”

Justice Department spokesperson Natalie Baldassarre explained the Trump Administration’s position. 

“The Justice Department is focused on prosecuting criminals, getting illegal drugs off the streets, and protecting all Americans from violent crime,” said Ms. Baldassarre, “Discretionary funds that are not aligned with the administration’s priorities are subject to review and reallocation, including funding for clinics that engage in race-based selectivity.”

After Reuters reported on the cuts in April, seven of the grants were restored. A lawsuit has been filed to restore all the remaining grants.        

Trump Travel Bans on 12 Countries 7 Others Restricted

President Trump announced travel bans on 12 countries and partial restrictions on 7 others, claiming the new restrictions, which primarily targeted African and Asian countries, were necessary to fortify national security and combat terrorism.

The President said the list could be revised if “material improvements were made,” while other countries could be added as “threats emerge around the world.”

     The President’s proclamation bans travel to the US from nationals of 12 countries: Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Congo-Brazzaville, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen.

Nationals from these countries will not be allowed to enter the US unless they qualify for an exemption.

The additional 7 countries whose nationals face partial travel restrictions are: Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela.

Those under the partial restrictions will not be able to travel to the US with certain visas.

No end date has been provided. The order calls for periodic reviews.

US Halts Student Visa Appointments 

The Trump Administration has ordered US embassies around the world to stop scheduling appointments for student visas as it prepares to expand social media vetting of student and foreign exchange visas, which would have significant implications for embassies and consulates. 

Foreign students who want to study in the US are usually required to schedule interviews at a US embassy in their home country before approval. 

“We take very seriously the process of vetting who it is that comes into the country,” said State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce. “And we are going to continue to do that.” 

The directive instructed US embassies to remove any unfilled appointments from their calendars for students seeking visas, but said those with appointments already scheduled could go ahead.

The Trump Administration has stated that it will aggressively revoke the visas of Chinese students studying in the US.

Responding to the move, China called on the US to protect all international students. But certainly the Chinese are calling on this “protection” specifically for the hundreds of thousands of Chinese students who now attend US universities. 

“We urge the US side to earnestly safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of foreign students, including those from China,” a Chinese Party official was quoted.

Secretary Of State Marco Rubio stated that the move against Chinese students would include “those with connections to the Chinese Communist Party or those studying in critical fields…The pause will continue until further guidance is issued,” remarked Mr. Rubio.

Trump Revokes Act for Emergency Abortions at Hospitals

The Trump Administration rescinded federal guidance that required emergency rooms to provide an abortion if the procedure would save a patient’s life. The Biden-era guidance, issued in 2022, argued the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act required hospitals to provide treatment during a medical emergency, even in States with near-total abortion bans.   

The Trump White House announced they would no longer enforce the policy. The move prompted concerns from many Doctors and abortion rights advocates that women will not get emergency abortions in States with strict bans. 

“The Trump Administration would rather women die in the emergency rooms than receive life-saving abortions,” Nancy Northup, President and CEO of the Center for Reproductive Rights, said in a statement. “In pulling back guidance, this administration is feeding the fear and confusion that already exists at hospitals in every state where abortion is banned. Hospitals need more guidance, not less, to stop them from turning away patients experiencing pregnancy crises.”

Anti-abortion advocates, meanwhile, praised the announcement.