The Trump administration has eliminated over half of U.S. federal funding for gun violence prevention, cutting $158 million from community violence intervention (CVI) grants. According to government data analyzed by Reuters, 69 of 145 CVI grants—worth more than $300 million—were terminated in April. The Department of Justice (DOJ) cited shifting priorities, stating the programs “no longer effectuate” their goals.
These CVI programs, funded largely through the 2022 Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, were a cornerstone of former President Joe Biden’s efforts to curb rising gun violence and marked the first direct federal support for grassroots initiatives. Many programs trained outreach workers to de-escalate conflicts, provided hospital-based support for shooting victims, and connected at-risk individuals to jobs and social services.
The cuts impact major cities like New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles, as well as southern communities such as Memphis and Baton Rouge, which relied heavily on federal aid due to limited state funding. Experts warn the rollback threatens years of progress in neighborhoods disproportionately affected by gun violence, particularly Black and Latino communities.
Advocates argue the programs reduce retaliatory shootings and strengthen cooperation between police and communities. Law enforcement groups in Louisville, Minneapolis, and Tucson recently urged Attorney General Pam Bondi to restore the grants, calling them “lifesaving strategies.”
Gun violence deaths in the U.S. surged 50% from 2015 to a peak of 21,383 in 2021, before declining to 16,725 in 2024. Despite recent improvements, nonprofits now face closures or layoffs as they scramble to find replacement funding. Leaders warn that without federal support, crucial intervention efforts during peak summer months may collapse, reversing hard-won gains in public safety.