House Republicans Aim to Eliminate Thousands of Federal Law Enforcement Agents and Analysts

Republican cuts hurt the economy, make life easier for violent criminals, erode American scientific strength, and threaten national security.

WASHINGTON — House Republicans today released the draft fiscal year 2026 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies funding bill, which will be considered in subcommittee tomorrow. The legislation defunds law enforcement, makes us less safe, and hurts our economy.

For 2026, the bill provides $79 billion in discretionary funding, a $2.1 billion, or 2.6 percent cut, below 2025. The legislation:

• Threatens national security by defunding law enforcement, eliminating thousands of federal agent and analyst positions, and cutting resources to protect Americans from harm, including violent crime, espionage, domestic and international terrorism, and other threats.
• Makes families, women, and children less safe by slashing legal services, Violence Against Women Act grants, Juvenile Justice grants, Community Violence Intervention and Prevention grants, hate crime prevention grants, and other resources that prevent violence.
• Hurts the economy and harms hardworking Americans who cannot keep up with the high cost of living by gutting Economic Development Administration (EDA) programs that mainly serve rural communities, as well as International Trade Administration (ITA) programs that promote U.S. exports and fight the unfair trade practices of other countries.
• Continues Republicans’ attacks on America’s scientific and economic competitiveness by cutting billions from science, technology development, STEM education, and aeronautics research of NASA and the National Science Foundation.
• Promotes and increases waste, fraud, and abuse by cutting oversight and investigation funding for numerous agency offices of Inspector General.

“Federal funding for public safety, scientific research, and innovation is essential for building stronger communities, boosting our economy, and protecting national security. These are investments that make our country safer, stronger, and more prosperous. The proposed funding cuts in this legislation would take our country in the wrong direction,” Commerce, Justice, Science Subcommittee Ranking Member Grace Meng (D-NY-06) said. “Cuts to federal law enforcement and violence prevention programs in this legislation will make Americans less safe. Additionally, reductions in funding for scientific research, technology, and innovation will continue to weaken America’s scientific and economic competitiveness at a time when our adversaries are growing. I hope that my Republican colleagues are willing to come to the table and work together to find solutions that keep our communities safe from threats at home and abroad, support hardworking Americans, and advance our nation’s leadership in science and technology.”

“House Republicans are not making Americans safer. They have introduced yet another bill which defunds law enforcement, threatens public safety and national security, and cuts funding to protect the United States from harm, including espionage, domestic and international terrorism, and other threats,” Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03) said. “Republicans’ 2026 Commerce, Justice, Science funding bill completely eliminates several violence prevention grants and weakens law enforcement at all levels. It would force the FBI to reduce its workforce by thousands of positions, underfunding the agency by nearly $1 billion and weakening its ability to fight violent crime and counter threats to our national security. Republicans want to slash resources for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), forcing ATF to reduce its workforce by more than 1,000 positions, hurting its ability to prevent illegal gun trafficking and to assist State and local law enforcement in capturing dangerous criminals. Americans want a safe place to live and raise their families. This bill only makes them less secure.”

A summary of House Republicans’ 2026 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies funding bill is here. A fact sheet is here. The text of the bill is here. The subcommittee markup will be webcast live and linked on the House Committee on Appropriations website.

###