The House Republican History of Voting to Defund Law Enforcement

Since taking the majority, House Republicans have gone out of their way to defund local and federal law enforcement.

First, every single vulnerable House Republican voted for the ‘Default on America Act.’ This dangerous legislation would have cut up to $10 billion from federal law enforcement agencies and jeopardized nearly 30,000 jobs. These cuts would have included:

• $2.8 billion from the FBI budget, resulting in the loss of 11,000 agents, analysts, and staff.

• $162 million from the Capitol Police budget, resulting in the loss of 600 sworn officers.

• $580 million from federal prosecutors in charge of prosecuting hate crimes, terrorism and more, resulting in the loss of 3,400 prosecutors and staff.

• An average cut of $30,000 in federal grant money to local law enforcement agencies across the country.

Then, 80% of House Republicans released a radical budget that would defund the COPS program. For decades, the COPS program has supported efforts to improve community policing, recruit and retain local police officers, fight the addiction crisis, and help prevent violence in schools – including over $216.8 million in 2023 to hire 1,730 police officers.

As members of the RSC, thirteen vulnerable House Republicans will have to answer for their committee’s proposal to cut the COPS program:

House Republicans are desperate to rewrite their record of abandoning the brave men and women who keep our communities safe. 

DCCC Spokesperson Viet Shelton:
“Vulnerable House Republicans have a history of voting for reckless and dangerous cuts to law enforcement that would make our communities less safe – no amount of talk and political stunts can change that.”

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