By Ed Somers
September 27, 2004

Continuing the downward trend in funding for anti-crime programs, Congress is on the verge of approving major cuts in the COPS and Local Law Enforcement Block Grant programs. The full House has approved its FY 2005 funding bill for the Department of Justice, and the related bill has been approved by the Appropriations Committee in the Senate.

COPS Funding

The COPS program, once funded as high as $1.63 billion annually, now faces the serious possibility of being reduced to as little as $331 million under the House-passed funding bill. In addition, while over the history of the program as much as 80-90 percent of the funding was available for hiring programs, hiring funding could go as low as $113 million under the House bill.

Under the Senate committee bill, approximately $541 million would be provided for COPS, including $180 million for hiring programs. An additional $100 million would be provided for interoperability grants supported by the Conference of Mayors.

LLEBG

The Senate bill would slash the LLEBG to $55 million once earmarks are taken out of the program. LLEBG was funded at $523 million until several years ago.

The House bill includes $624 million for a new Justice Assistance Grant program which would combine the LLEBG and the State-based Byrne grant. If approved as currently in the House bill, local funding for under the new bill for LLEBG related activities would be funded at $213 million.

Following is a chart providing details on these and other key law enforcement programs.