Strengthening and Unleashing America's Law Enforcement To Pursue Criminals and Protect Innocent Citizens
This executive order (14288) directs federal resources toward training, funding, data sharing, and best practices to help state and local law enforcement aggressively police communities against all crimes. The Attorney General is instructed to establish support for officers under scrutiny for actions taken in the line of duty, review federal consent decrees and other agreements that may restrict policing, and pursue legal action against jurisdictions that unlawfully prohibit law enforcement from carrying out necessary duties or implement diversity, equity, and inclusion-based policies that interfere with public safety. Military assets, including non-lethal capabilities, training, and personnel, are also being considered for deployment in support of crime prevention efforts.
What to watch: To uphold constitutional protections and preserve state and local authority, federal involvement in local policing should remain focused on optional grants, non-binding federal standards, coordinated partnerships, and data sharing. Any federal enforcement efforts should be tied directly to clear statutory authority, such as the Civil Rights Act. Due to potential civil liberties concerns, states and local jurisdictions should monitor for the possible expanded use of military and national security assets in crime prevention. Additionally, while the order promotes increased officer pay and benefits through federal support, jurisdictions should weigh the long-term budgetary implications of relying on temporary federal grants to fund recurring personnel costs.
April 28, 2025