The Justice Department said two to four cities will receive federal grants for public safety strategies after federal law enforcement surges in Memphis and Washington were credited with reducing violent crime.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
The Department of Justice announced a nearly $300 million public safety grant program Wednesday aimed at helping select U.S. cities reduce crime, expand law enforcement capacity and develop strategies that can be replicated nationwide.
The Model Cities Initiative will provide awards to two to four cities for programs designed to reduce violent crime, strengthen accountability and improve public safety, according to the department. Cities and local governments representing populations of more than 100,000 people will have 90 days to apply.
“Through this initiative, two to four cities will be selected to receive awards supporting the implementation of comprehensive and innovative strategies to reduce crime, restore law and order, and enhance public safety,” the DOJ said.
The department said the initiative is intended to help cities “build capacity, strengthen accountability, and deliver measurable reductions in crime that can serve as a model of innovation for replication nationwide.”
President Donald Trump said in a June 3 post on X that his administration has carried out the “most successful war on crime in American history,” citing what he described as the lowest murder rate in 125 years and a 60% reduction in fentanyl coming across the border.
“In short, we’re committed to making historic investments and improving the quality of life of city residents nationwide,” Trump said.
“For the next 90 days, any city or local government representing a population of more than 100,000 people can apply to take part in this exciting new program,” he added.
“With your help, we will put more police on our streets, and we will put dangerous criminals behind bars where they belong. And we want to keep them there.”
The DOJ said the grants can be used to hire and retain personnel working to reduce violent crime. Cities may also use the funding for equipment, including forensic and DNA tools, artificial intelligence systems, small unmanned aircraft systems and license plate readers.
The money may also be used to lease or rent facilities for law enforcement operations, including intelligence analysis centers and training sites. Other eligible uses include professional development, public safety efforts, behavioral health services, mental health and substance use services, victim assistance, youth crime prevention and intervention programs, and efforts targeting repeat offenders.
The department said the funding is made possible through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed into law by Trump in July 2025.
According to a DOJ document, the Model Cities Initiative will emphasize what the department called “common sense policing,” including increased police activity in high-crime areas and proactive policing designed to deter criminal activity.
The department pointed to recent federal law enforcement surges in Memphis, Tennessee, and Washington, D.C., as examples of the type of approach the new initiative is meant to expand.
“Recent surges of federal law enforcement in cities like Memphis, Tennessee, and Washington, D.C. have demonstrated the successes that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Trump Administration have had when resources are laser-focused on providing cities with the tools they need to reduce violence, crime, and disorder,” the DOJ document said.
The department said violent crime rates, including murders, sexual assaults, robberies and motor vehicle thefts, have declined in Memphis. In Washington, the DOJ said burglary, motor vehicle theft, homicide and robbery rates fell after a federal law enforcement surge.
“To Make America Safe Again by continuing and expanding the successes seen in Memphis and Washington, D.C., DOJ is seeking applications for the Model Cities Initiative,” the document said.
The initiative comes as some state and local officials have pushed back against expanded federal involvement in local public safety operations.
In a Sept. 12, 2025, X post, Shelby County, Tennessee, Mayor Lee Harris raised concerns about the Trump administration’s possible deployment of the National Guard to address crime in Memphis.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul also proposed legislation Jan. 30 to bar state and local law enforcement agencies from entering or maintaining Section 287(g) cooperation agreements with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Those agreements allow local officers to detain suspected illegal immigrants.
Hochul said at the time that federal agents had carried out “unspeakable acts of violence against Americans under the guise of public safety” during the previous year.
“These abuses—and the weaponization of local police officers for civil immigration enforcement—will not stand in New York,” she said.
The DOJ said FBI data show violent crime has declined nationwide under the Trump administration. Between February 2025 and January 2026, robbery fell 19.4%, murder fell 18.5%, aggravated assault fell 7.5% and rape fell 7.3%, according to the data cited by the department.
Cities applying for the Model Cities Initiative must use what the DOJ called a “whole-of-city” approach. The department said applications should involve key local leaders, including the mayor, county prosecutor and sheriff, working together on a coordinated public safety plan.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said the administration intends to use federal authority to assist local governments that cooperate with its public safety agenda.
“This administration is leveraging every authority to ensure the safety of all Americans,” Blanche said.
“The Model Cities Initiative will supercharge our law enforcement partners and restore the rule of law to America’s neighborhoods, towns, and cities. Our message is clear: We will help those who help us Make America Safe Again.”
Applications for the grants are due by Sept. 1.
Original article
Comments