WASHINGTON — The Trump administration’s proposed Justice Department budget ran into criticism from both sides of the aisle on Wednesday, as lawmakers questioned a plan that would cut funding to law enforcement agencies and outlines an overhaul to the department’s structure.
Senators called out and picked apart pieces of the proposal during a Senate Appropriations subcommittee meeting with Attorney General Pam Bondi, bringing up the administration’s plans to eliminate the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, consolidate grantmaking components and reduce funding for the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Sen. Susan Collins, who leads the full Senate Appropriations Committee, turned attention to a proposal to slash funding for the Office on Violence Against Women by 29 percent. An administration budget document outlines a 20 percent cut to a program that assists domestic violence and sexual assault survivors with transitional housing and a 23 percent cut to a program that helps states support rape crisis centers and other groups.
The Maine Republican pressed Bondi on why the department would want to cut funding aimed at fighting domestic violence and sexual assault, asking if the proposed cut was imposed by the Office of Management and Budget.
Bondi said the budget was “a compromise.”
“It’s a leaner budget. We can always do more with more, but we can do more with less,” Bondi said.
Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kansas, who leads the Commerce-Justice-Science subcommittee, said he’s concerned by the depth of some of the proposed cuts, including reductions to law enforcement agencies and cuts to DOJ grant programs that help state and local law enforcement.
Moran said he’s heard concerns from state and local law enforcement in his state about a Trump administration proposal to eliminate the ATF. Under the plan, ATF functions would be merged into the DEA, which would remain a single component.
Authorities rely on the agency’s National Integrated Ballistic Information Network to develop intelligence on guns used in crimes, Moran said.
“I’ve also heard serious concerns from Second Amendment advocates,” he said, adding there’s concern about associating the right to bear arms with “truly evil things” such as fentanyl, methamphetamine and Mexican cartels.
Among the groups opposing the merger are the Firearms Policy Coalition, Gun Owners of America and the NSSF, a trade association for the firearms industry.
Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-West Virginia., also expressed concern over the proposed merger, saying she’s heard from constituents about whether the move would dilute the agencies’ different functions.
Democrats used the hearing to confront Bondi about her tenure as the nation’s top law enforcement officer, as career officials have left and staunch Trump allies have been installed in key department positions.
“The Department of Justice is supposed to play a vital role in defending our Constitution, upholding the rule of law and keeping the American people safe. Unfortunately, it’s currently failing on all these fronts,” said Sen. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, the top Democrat on the subcommittee.
“And this budget request will make a bad situation even worse,” Van Hollen said. “We are witnessing a level of lawlessness from this administration that is unprecedented in scale and scope.”
Van Hollen questioned the attorney general on a decision this year to terminate hundreds of department grants that had already been awarded, a move currently being challenged in court.
Bondi in response gave an offering. “If we did cut a grant that you care about, that is specific to your state, please contact me,” she said. “I’ve turned on grants that were cut off.”
“I never want to take away a grant that is actually helping Americans, helping victims, helping law enforcement,” Bondi said.
Earlier this year, organizations across the nation who assist victims reported that they were blindsided by the notices and hurt financially by the grant terminations.
A lawsuit brought in federal court says the terminated funding touched a wide range of areas, including grants related to violence reduction, victims’ services, juvenile justice and child protection.
The House and Senate have not released their fiscal 2026 spending bills that includes DOJ funding, although the House is expected to do so in early July.
Story by Ryan Tarinelli CQ-Roll Call. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency.
