Trump Cuts 373 Grants on Gun Violence Prevention

St. Croix Times Staff

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 among 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,” sid 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 opinion. 

“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.