New Jersey Attorney General Blasts Feds over Cuts to Law Enforcement Grants

President Donald Trump’s administration surprised New Jersey officials by cutting federal law enforcement grants this week that fund programs for drug treatment and preventing hate crimes and violence.

New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin expressed anger as he announced the cuts at the start of a press conference Wednesday on an unrelated rent price fixing lawsuit in Newark.

Platkin said the cuts by the Trump administration are dangerous for New Jersey residents.

“I just want to underscore how callous and reckless cuts like these are,” he said.

Platkin, who is Jewish, also pointed to the recent incident in neighboring Pennsylvania where Gov. Josh Shapiro’s house was set on fire.

“We just saw a week ago Gov. Shapiro’s house nearly burned down, specifically because he was targeted as a Jewish member of his community,” Platkin said. “ And yet, we’re cutting funds without warning for ongoing efforts to combat bias using law enforcement tools to protect people from harm.”

“And if they want to cut law enforcement programs that affect my state,” he continued, “I damn well want to be called.”

The grants that were cut in New Jersey include money for the Matthew Shepard & James Byrd Hate Crimes Program, which helped law enforcement officials and prosecutors more effectively prosecute hate crimes.

Funding for initiatives to prevent gun violence were also canceled, state officials said.

“Making sure that we have tools to intercept cycles of violence, prevent revenge shootings that have plagued our communities, gang violence — that work has saved lives in New Jersey,” Platkin said.

Federal money for addiction services was also cut, state officials said. That included funding for programs focused on opioids.

Notices sent to Platkin’s office by the federal Department of Justice said the federal government was reallocating the money.

“The department has changed its priorities with respect to discretionary grant funding to focus on, among other things, more directly supporting certain law enforcement operations combating violent crime, protecting American children, and supporting American victims of trafficking and sexual assault, and better coordinating law enforcement efforts at all levels of government,” the federal termination notice read.

The programs affected by the cuts have been awarded more than $20 million since 2021, according to federal data. Officials in the attorney general’s office said they were still in the process of calculating how much money is left for the programs and how much money was lost.

Platkin has been at odds with the Trump administration for months. He and other Democratic attorneys general have sued or joined lawsuits around the country to fight numerous Trump administration funding cuts and policies.

The state Police Benevolent Association said it also opposed the Trump administration cuts.

“Law enforcement needs partners at every level of government and decisions like this — made without warning or input — undermine that partnership,” the organization said in a statement.

“We urge the Department of Justice to reconsider and invite them to engage directly with New Jersey’s law enforcement community. We remain ready to work with anyone who’s serious about protecting lives, regardless of politics,” the association said.

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