Attorney General gets power to cut federal funds to entire cities.

What it does

This bill bars federal funding to any state or city that the Attorney General declares 'lawless'—defined as jurisdictions that prevent police from responding to violence, withdraw law enforcement from areas, defund police, or refuse federal law enforcement help during crises. The Attorney General must make these determinations quarterly and publish them; a jurisdiction can regain funding 180 days later or once the AG says it is no longer lawless.

Why we flagged it

The bill's operative mechanism is a funding cutoff tied to Attorney General determinations of 'lawlessness.' It is not a deregulation, subsidy, or commemorative measure—it is a conditional-funding enforcement tool that grants executive discretion to withhold federal money from jurisdictions.

What the text implies

• The definition of 'lawless jurisdiction' includes jurisdictions that 'forbid law enforcement from intervening'—but does not distinguish between a blanket prohibition and narrow restrictions on specific tactics (e.g., no-knock warrants, use of force in certain contexts). A city with a policy limiting police response to low-level offenses could be deemed lawless under this language.
• The AG's determination is final and not subject to judicial review or appeal by the jurisdiction. A city cannot challenge the determination in court before losing federal funds, creating a due-process gap.
• Federal funds include education, infrastructure, housing, and healthcare dollars. A single determination by the AG could defund schools, hospitals, and public transit in a city, harming residents who had no role in the policies the AG objects to.
• The 180-day reinstatement window is automatic only if the AG makes a new determination; otherwise the jurisdiction must wait indefinitely. This creates incentive for jurisdictions to reverse policies quickly, even if those policies reflect local democratic choices.
• The definition includes refusal to 'accept an offer of law enforcement assistance from the Federal Government'—but does not require the offer to be reasonable, funded, or aligned with local needs. A city could lose funding for declining federal assistance it cannot afford to implement.

Section numbers refer to the bill text the analysis read — linked under Primary records below.

Who it affects

Residents of jurisdictions deemed 'lawless' by the Attorney General lose access to federal funds for schools, infrastructure, housing, and social services—a collective punishment that harms ordinary citizens, not officials. The definition is vague and grants the AG sweeping discretion without judicial review, creating risk of political weaponization against cities with different policing philosophies or those that have experienced civil unrest.

Named in the bill

Attorney General, Federal Government, State and local jurisdictions, Law enforcement agencies

Where it stands

4 cosponsors: 4 Republicans.

• Jun 11, 2025 — Introduced · Congress.gov: “Introduced in House”
• Jun 11, 2025 — Referred to House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and House Committee on the Judiciary · Congress.gov: “Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Government…”

Dates and quoted wording are Congress.gov's action record; the timeline shows status changes, not every procedural step.