Washington, DC—Today, Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-1), a former FBI Agent and Federal Prosecutor, and Congressman Jared Golden (D-ME-02), a United States Marine Corps Veteran, announced the introduction of their Defund Cities That Defund The Police Act— bipartisan legislation that ensures federal taxpayer dollars are not awarded to state and local governments that dismantle or significantly cut funding for law enforcement agencies without valid, financial justification.
This bill is a direct response to a growing trend of reckless policies that have stripped police departments of critical funding—resulting in officer shortages, slower emergency response times, depleted resources, and rising concerns about public safety. The consequences have been real, and law-abiding citizens are the ones paying the price.
Under the bill, any jurisdiction that abolishes, disbands, or drastically reduces its police budget—without a proportional drop in total revenue—will be classified as a “defunding jurisdiction” and disqualified from receiving:
- Economic Development Administration (EDA) grants
- Community Development Block Grants (CDBG)
"We ask our police officers to stand up for us every day—it’s time we stand up for them. This bill sends a clear message: if you defund your police, you defund yourself. I’ll always fight to make sure our federal dollars support communities that protect their citizens and respect the brave officers who serve with courage and integrity,” said Fitzpatrick.
“Defunding the police recklessly puts politics over the safety of families,” said Golden. “Cities and towns should be focused on increasing public safety, and this bipartisan legislation is a common sense deterrent against bad policy.”
The legislation has received strong endorsements from law enforcement leaders across Pennsylvania:
“We would like to sincerely thank Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick for his leadership and dedication on keeping law enforcement full funded as we can protect the citizens of the commonwealth and our great nation. The Pennsylvania State Troopers Association is in full support of the reintroduction of this legislation,” said Stephen Polishan, President, PA State Troopers Association.
“It's undeniable that the defund-the-police movement was/is a catastrophic failure fueled by anti-law enforcement rhetoric and divisive political motivation. The impact continues to cause tragic consequences for many law-abiding citizens and communities. Poor legislation and failed policies are the cause of many socio-economic problems with blame misdirected at the police. We support laws that help keep our communities safe from the lawless practitioners who callously prey on and victimize our citizens. It's time to hold accountable those who are truly responsible. We stand with Congressman Fitzpatrick and his efforts to right this wrong and restore justice,” said Dan Diedel, President, Montgomery County FOP
A former FBI Special Agent and federal prosecutor, Congressman Fitzpatrick has consistently championed bipartisan efforts to strengthen public safety—leading legislation to expand community policing, improve officer training, support mental health for first responders, and ensure departments have the resources needed to serve and protect.
“Strong communities are built by supporting the men and women in law enforcement—not by undermining them,” added Fitzpatrick. “This legislation is about common sense, accountability, and our duty to prioritize public safety. We will always stand with those who serve honorably, and we will not fund those who choose to turn their backs on them.”