Everytown Responds to Republican Attempts to Defund Law Enforcement in Fiscal Year 2025 Appropriations Legislation

WASHINGTON — Today, the House Committee on Appropriations advanced their Fiscal Year 2025 funding legislation for the Department of Justice, including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), which includes significant cuts to ATF, eliminates funding for life-saving community violence intervention and prevention programs, and contains riders that will make it more difficult to prevent, investigate, and respond to gun violence and gun crimes. 

“Once again, gun extremists are attempting to defund ATF — one of our nation’s leading law enforcement agencies — in a dangerous effort to further their ‘guns everywhere’ agenda,” said John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety. “The proposed cuts to ATF’s budget threaten law enforcement and public safety. We urge Congress to listen to the clear majority of Americans who are demanding common-sense solutions to gun violence that will keep our communities safe.”

What you need to know about the proposed spending bill:

• The proposed budget slashes ATF’s funding by nearly $200M — an attack on federal, state, and local law enforcement that endangers public safety. The proposed budget is more than $500M below President Biden’s budget request. 

• It eliminates funding for life-saving community violence intervention and prevention programs, which Congress has funded on a bipartisan basis since Fiscal Year 2022 and in the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act.
  • These programs provide evidence- and community-informed support to those who are at the greatest risk of gun violence through targeted public health interventions. 

• The proposed budget also includes numerous dangerous riders that would:
  • Allow unlicensed sellers to sell guns without a background check to prohibited persons like convicted felons and domestic abusers, as well as gun traffickers. 
  • Make it easier for mass shooters to get their hands on arm-brace-equipped assault weapons and for criminals to acquire untraceable ghost guns. 
  • Block critical funding Congress provided in the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act to help states implement Extreme Risk Protection Order programs.
  • Shield the firearms industry—which has long prioritized profits over public safety—from regular and routine oversight. 

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