Trump Has Defunded Baltimore Program Reducing Crime

Baltimore native Justin Fowlkes, 26, lived through violence twice—first struck by a stray bullet at a bus stop, and later targeted directly when shot in the shoulder—during his years immersed in the city’s drug trade. Reflecting on that life, he said, “Out on the streets, you know what you sign up for… I’m a dead man walking,” capturing the grim reality he once accepted.

But a local community violence intervention (CVI) program helped change his path—encouraging him to exit the streets and pursue job training. He earned his HVAC certification and a commercial driver’s license through that support. Now a father, Fowlkes credits the program with teaching him emotional regulation and saving his life.

This type of initiative, however, was caught in the crosshairs of the Trump administration’s early-2025 defunding push. The DOJ slashed more than $800 million in grants, including $158 million earmarked specifically for CVI programs, many of which supported cities like Baltimore, Chicago, and Washington, D.C. A court later upheld the rescission, rejecting efforts to reverse the cuts as legally unfounded.

Meanwhile, Baltimore has seen remarkable progress in reducing violent crime—even as CVI funding vanished. Under Mayor Brandon Scott’s leadership, the city implemented a data-driven, community-focused crime prevention strategy, including the Group Violence Reduction Strategy (GVRS), partnerships with nonprofits, and interventions by credible messengers. As a result, 2024 saw just 201 homicides—the second-lowest total since 1980.

As of early September 2025, Baltimore recorded 91 homicides and 218 nonfatal shootings, marking the lowest such totals in more than 50 years for the first eight months of the year. That represents a nearly 30% drop in homicides and a 21% decline in nonfatal shootings compared to the same period last year. City leaders attribute this success to their holistic approach, calling it the most sustained progress in decades.

Governor Wes Moore and Mayor Scott both rejected President Trump’s suggestion to send National Guard troops into Baltimore—criticizing the proposal as political theatre that undermines effective, locally crafted public safety strategies. They instead announced an expanded deployment of state law enforcement and renewed investment in violence interrupters, insisting, “We can do this ourselves—without occupation”.

Key Takeaways

• Personal impact: Justin Fowlkes credits a CVI program with rescuing him from a cycle of violence and incarceration.

• Federal rollback: More than $800 million in DOJ grants, including funding crucial to CVI work, were cut in 2025 — outweighing the aims of proactive public safety efforts.

• Local success story: Despite the funding setback, Baltimore’s comprehensive community strategy—combining data, trust-building, and targeted outreach—has helped it reach the lowest homicide and shooting rates in decades.

• Political pushback: Civic leaders declined federal troop deployment, emphasizing homegrown solutions over militarized enforcement.

This narrative illustrates a powerful contrast: while the Trump administration pursued a top-down, force-driven approach, Baltimore’s local leaders doubled down on community-rooted strategies—and crime rates across the city have dropped significantly.

Source: The Atlantic