Image Credit: Donald J. Trump / Facebook, City of Memphis / Facebook
Tennessee Conservative News [By Olivia Lupia] –
Amid the continued success of the Memphis Safe Task Force (MSTF), the Trump Administration’s Department of Justice (DOJ) will offer $300 million in federal grants to several cities for their own law enforcement surges, provided these cities meet certain anti-progressive conditions.
In the next couple of months, the DOJ will announce the finalist cites that will split the $300 million in federal funding under a “Model Cities” policing initiative (MCI), which was first announced in June.
Citing Washington D.C. and Memphis as cities to emulate, the MCI will aim to “transform public safety in America’s cities” by “supporting the implementation of comprehensive and innovative strategies to reduce crime, restore law and order, and enhance public safety.”
Funded through President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill, grants will be awarded to two to four local government entities serving at least 100,000 residents, with funding lasting three years. Most municipalities with populations over 100,000 residents do not have Republican political majorities, implying the grant funds are intended to target Blue cities with crime problems.
“This administration is leveraging every authority to ensure the safety of all Americans,” said U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche. “The Model Cities Initiative will supercharge our law enforcement partners and restore the rule of law to America’s neighborhoods, towns, and cities. Our message is clear: We will help those who help us Make America Safe Again.”
Under the program, investments will be made in areas including public safety, behavioral health, related staffing, equipment, and services “with the goal of leveraging federal resources to build capacity, strengthen accountability, and deliver measurable reductions in crime that can serve as a model of innovation for replication nationwide.”
Support will be offered for activities including:
- Hiring and retention of personnel
- Purchase or lease of equipment, tools, or technology to reduce crime and restore law and order
- Training and professional development, including coordination with state and federal partners
- Facility costs for spaces like delivery sites, training facilities, or intelligence analysis centers
- Mental health and substance use services to directly support prevention, crisis response, and other related services
- Reentry, transitional support, and recidivism reduction programs and services
- Victim services including case management, shelter or temporary housing, childcare, legal services, and employment assistance
- Youth crime prevention and intervention services, including gang intervention and suppression programs
But accepting the federal money reportedly comes with certain conditions, mainly that cities reject progressive policing ideologies and practices. Cities will supposedly be required to comply with federal immigration enforcement requests, enact strict policies and rules regarding homelessness and public substance abuse, and potentially repay millions of dollars should there be a surge in violent crime or “civil unrest”.
Municipalities looking to participate must submit their application by September 1, and the process requires a “whole-of-city approach” with city leaders like the mayor, sheriff, and county prosecutor working together to submit one application that “proposes a persuasive vision of how this money can be awarded strategically throughout their city to improve law enforcement engagement, victim services, detention and reentry services, and preventive programs.”
“[The justice department] looks forward to reviewing applications from across the country that demonstrate how creative solutions and close teamwork between local and federal partners can achieve the same dramatic gains in public safety seen in Washington D.C. and Memphis. This is the Make America Safe Again mission in action,” said a DOJ spokesperson.
Once the finalists are announced, these cities will be invited to make a presentation with the ultimate recipients to be selected by DOJ senior leadership based on the application, presentation, and overall alignment with the goals and objectives of MCI.
Sources:
https://www.justice.gov/asg/media/1444021/dl?inline
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/aug/10/trump-administration-justice-department-policing
https://www.justice.gov/asg/media/1448971/dl?inline
About the Author: Olivia Lupia is a political refugee from Colorado who now calls Tennessee home. A proud follower of Christ, she views all political happenings through a Biblical lens and aims to utilize her knowledge and experience to educate and equip others. Olivia is an outspoken conservative who has run for local office, managed campaigns, and been highly involved with state & local GOPs, state legislatures, and other grassroots organizations and movements. Olivia can be reached at olivia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
One Response
That’ll be wasted.