City of New York Takes Action To Protect Over $820 Million in Federal Funding for Public Safety Organizations Nationwide

June 6, 2025

Coalition Files Amicus Brief Outlining Why Non-Profits Must Have Federal Public Safety Grants Restored   

Continues Adams Administration's Work To Ensure New Yorkers Get Every Dollar They Are Entitled to at Every Level of Government 

NEW YORK – The City of New York today — as part of a coalition of cities, counties, elected officials, and prosecuting attorneys from around the nation — took action to protect congressionally-appropriated funding for public safety organizations by filing an amicus brief in the case of Vera Institute of Justice, et al. v. U.S. Department of Justice, et al. This brief strongly supports litigation against the unlawful April 2025 decision by the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Justice Programs (OJP) to immediately terminate more than 270 multi-year grants, awarding more than $820 million in essential funding to non-profit organizations serving to strengthen public safety in communities across the country, including in New York City.  

"These grant funding cuts by the U.S. Department of Justice represent yet another example of a massive overreach by this federal administration," said New York City Corporation Counsel Muriel Goode-Trufant. "As detailed in the brief, the nearly billion dollars in funding cuts to our longstanding non-profit partners not only violate the intent of Congress but undermine public safety and vital social services for our communities."    

"These cuts to service providers will have a significant impact on New Yorkers," said Mayor's Office of Criminal Justice Director Deanna Logan. "The organizations impacted provide critical public safety services to our community, including resources that support victims and lower recidivism. They also provide tools to make our courts more efficient and vital services for individuals transitioning back into the community. New York is the safest big city in America and these cuts undermine its ability to maintain that safety." 

Several organizations that are contractors or sub-contractors with New York City Mayor's Office of Criminal Justice have lost out on more than $18 million in grants in total after the OJP terminated the grants. As the brief lays out, New York City and other localities rely on these and other public safety partners, and if the funding is not restored, New Yorkers and other Americans would bear the impact of reduced services or increased costs, and public safety could be undermined. 

Many of the terminated grants support programs that appear to be aligned with OJP's stated goals for violence reduction, law enforcement efforts, victim services, child protection, and other public safety and justice functions. More specifically, New York City and the other jurisdictions that joined the brief rely on non-profit partners to provide these services, including, among many others, maintaining correctional facilities, improving safety in prisons, updating law enforcement and emergency responses, providing invaluable support for victims of crime, and training and assisting law enforcement and police officers, correctional facilities staff, prosecutors, judges, and amici's own staff on a variety of issues and services involving mental health, homelessness, substance use treatment, and gun and gang violence intervention. 

In the brief, the coalition asks the court to support the plaintiff's motion for preliminary injunction. 

The amicus brief was prepared by the Public Rights Project and was joined by the City of New York, along with the cities of Sacramento and Santa Monica, California; Chicago, Illinois; Baltimore, Maryland; Kansas City, Missouri; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Newark, New Jersey; as well as Santa Clara County, California; Montgomery County, Maryland; Washtenaw County, Michigan; Shelby County, Tennessee; King County, Washington; and Winnebago County, Wisconsin. Also joining are elected officials and prosecuting attorneys representing Santa Clara County, California; Ridgway, Colorado; Marrion County, Indiana; Kalamazoo County and Washtenaw County, Michigan; Jackson County, Missouri; Hood River and Wasco County, Oregon; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Shelby County, Tennessee; Travis County, Texas; Chittenden County, Vermont; Norfolk, Virginia; and Winnebago County, Wisconsin. 

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