The federal Department of Justice made sweeping cuts to gun violence prevention programs last week, confirmed by Attorney General Pam Bondi on Thursday. While the breadth and impact of the cuts is not yet fully apparent, Pennsylvania organizations have been informed they will no longer receive funds including Promise Neighborhoods in the Lehigh Valley.
“The unexpected federal termination of Promise Neighborhoods of the Lehigh Valley’s CVIPI grant strikes at the heart of years of hard work, trust-building, and progress. Together with our partners and our community, we have fought tirelessly for safer streets, healing spaces, and opportunities for hope. This loss of funding threatens critical programs that have changed lives and saved lives — work built patiently and passionately by the very people most impacted by violence,” said Jeani Garcia, Interim Executive Director of Promise Neighborhoods of the Lehigh Valley. “We are clear: this setback will not silence us. Our commitment to the families and neighborhoods we serve is stronger than ever. Now, more than ever, we call on our community, partners, and supporters to stand with us. Together, we can protect the progress we’ve made, push back against violence, and build an even stronger future. Promise Neighborhoods of the Lehigh Valley will continue this fight — because every life matters.”
Early reporting shows that 75 programs nationally, totaling more than $180 million have been notified of cuts with more expected.
“Gun violence prevention programs provide some of the highest return on investment of state dollars,” said CeaseFirePA Executive Director Adam Garber. “These cuts are wrong on the dollars and cents, but also in the moral obligation our government has to its people. If these cuts go forward, and expand, we the second Trump Administration may tie the first in a record they should not want: the largest increase in homicides in modern US history.”
In 2024 after several years of robust investment from the state and federal government in community violence intervention, gun homicides dropped statewide by 38 percent and the City of Allentown saw its lowest rate of gun homicides since 1989.
CeaseFirePA recently released a report detailing the reduction of gun violence correlated to investment in violence prevention. You can read the full report here.
