On the morning of November 22 Beijing time, the city of Chicago announced it would not apply for a federal community violence intervention grant after the Trump administration shifted the program's focus toward law enforcement and immigration issues, calling the new terms a politicization of public safety.
Mayor Brandon Johnson's press office stated, "The city does not intend to apply for any federal grant that requires Chicago to align with President Trump's political objectives."
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) confirmed it had adjusted the program's priorities—originally designed to support community violence prevention efforts.
Chicago officials disagree with the Trump administration on what constitutes effective violence prevention measures. Johnson described the administration's April decision to revoke over $800 million in violence prevention funding as "politically motivated."
The refusal to apply for the revised grant marks the latest clash between the city and the Trump administration over its hardline immigration policies. Previously, Chicago sued the administration over alleged "unlawful restrictions" in other community policing grants.
As of Friday, the DOJ had not immediately responded to requests for comment on Chicago's decision.
Chicago is the first U.S. city to publicly decline the grant. Meanwhile, Newark, New Jersey, and Columbia, South Carolina, among others, told Reuters they are proceeding with applications. Historically, the grants were distributed directly to community organizations, benefiting multiple cities.
In late September, the DOJ announced changes to the Community Violence Intervention and Prevention Initiative (CVIPI), including ending direct funding to community groups and prohibiting services for undocumented residents. The total funding was also reduced to $34.6 million. When first approved in 2022, the Community Violence Intervention (CVI) program received $50 million, with an additional $50 million allocated over five years under the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act.
Last week, a DOJ spokesperson confirmed the adjustments in a statement, noting that grants would now also fund hiring more law enforcement officers, purchasing equipment, and "enhancing criminal justice system capacity."
The statement said the revised rules "reflect our view that the best way to prevent community violence is to strongly support law enforcement."
However, two former DOJ officials (who requested anonymity), along with community intervention workers and gun violence experts, argued the DOJ's new priorities deviate from the program's original intent. They noted the shift reflects a broader ideological redirection, diverting resources from historically marginalized communities affected by crime.
Jordan Costa, Deputy Director of the Giffords Violence Intervention Center, said, "Now, funds must flow through government agencies. Community organizations can only be sub-recipients, likely bound by the same mandates."
Some critics accuse the Trump administration of overreach.
President Donald Trump has made immigration crackdowns a central political agenda. He has also sought to withhold federal grants from cities that refuse to cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (
Renee Hall, President of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, remarked, "I don’t see how linking immigration to gang violence intervention makes sense. This is another overreach to advance the administration’s agenda."
White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson defended the administration’s crime reduction strategy last week, calling claims that it has failed to combat violent crime "false and baseless."
In Columbia, South Carolina, Deputy Police Chief Melron Kelly said the city’s grant team had submitted an application while seeking clarity on "what exactly immigration enforcement cooperation entails."
Kelly added, "Federal grants always come with stipulations—but they don’t dictate how or which laws to enforce."