Mike Lawler’s Republican National Convention Day 2: Defunding Law Enforcement Again

During the RNC, House GOP try to make Americans forget how they’ve repeatedly voted to defund law enforcement in Congress

At the RNC today, Mike Lawler and House Republicans will try to cover up the fact that they have repeatedly led the charge to defund local and federal law enforcement and make our communities less safe.

For the past two years, Lawler and House Republicans have voted to slash critical federal law enforcement funds, that directly mirror proposals in Donald Trump’s dangerous Project 2025:

• House Republicans voted to cut nearly $1 billion in funding from the Department of Justice, which would have resulted in huge reductions in personnel.

• Trump’s Project 2025 wants to severely restrict the DOJ’s ability to support public safety efforts in local communities through grants – House Republicans already pushed an irresponsible proposal to “reduce funding for Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS).”

  • This funding supports hiring local law enforcement – including over $216.8 million just last year to hire 1,730 new police officers across the country – and has helped local police departments improve community policing, address the addiction crisis, and support efforts to prevent violence in schools.

• House Republicans have tried to defund the FBI by $368 million, which would accomplish Project 2025’s goal of firing significant amounts of personnel.

• Project 2025 wants to gut the US Attorney’s office, making it harder to prosecute criminals – House Republicans have already tried to do this.

Lawler’s record stands in stark contrast to when House Democrats held the majority and worked to hire more officers; increase funding for officer training and crime prevention programs; and direct funds to local police departments to help solve gun crimes and keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people.

This shouldn’t come as a surprise from Lawler, who worked on a budget as senior adviser to the Westchester County executive that cut funding for the county police.

DCCC Spokesperson Ellie Dougherty:
“Mike Lawler and his extreme colleagues have repeatedly pushed an agenda that seeks to defund law enforcement. Now is the time to come together to support those who work tirelessly to keep Lower Hudson Valley families safe, not to take away the critical support and tools they need.”

###