California Attorney General Rob Bonta, along with the GIFFORDS Center for Violence Intervention, Assemblymember Mike Gipson, and Senator Jesse Arreguín, have publicly urged the Trump Administration to reconsider its decision to cut funding for community violence intervention programs. The administration, led by President Trump and U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, has terminated $811 million in federal grants intended for victim services and crime prevention across the United States.
Attorney General Bonta criticized the cuts stating that they "threaten California’s—and the nation’s—progress against violent crime." He called on the administration to reinstate these vital grants which are crucial for violence prevention efforts nationwide.
Mike McLively from GIFFORDS emphasized that these funding cuts undermine years of bipartisan investment in public safety. He expressed gratitude towards California leaders who continue to support state-level funding but stressed that federal commitments should not be withdrawn.
Assemblymember Mike A. Gipson also condemned the Department of Justice's decision as a "reckless and dangerous step backward," highlighting how this move could force California CVI organizations to scale back or shut down critical programs.
CVI programs play a significant role in breaking cycles of violence by engaging trained specialists to assist gunshot victims and those at high risk. These initiatives focus on trauma recovery and preventing retaliatory violence and gang activity. Last year, Attorney General Bonta organized roundtables with CVI leaders to acknowledge their success in reducing gun violence.
The termination of federal grants mid-cycle has severely impacted several organizations in California:
- Advance Peace in Fresno lost a $2 million grant.
- Youth ALIVE! In Oakland lost a $2 million grant.
- Urban Peace Institute in Los Angeles lost $1.5 million.
- Centro Cha Inc in Los Angeles lost $1.5 million.
- Fresno County Economic Opportunities Commission lost $2 million.
- The Reverence Project in Los Angeles lost $2 million.
- Providence Health System in Southern California lost nearly $2 million.