The Justice Department announced a federal push to reshape urban public safety on Wednesday, $300 million in grant money available. It’s called the “Model Cities Initiative” (MCI). Read more below.
The program will select up to four U.S. cities to receive concentrated federal funding aimed at executing a “whole-of-city” approach to drastically reduce crime rates and restore community order. Qualifying government entities with populations of at least 100,000 have until September 1, 2026 to submit their proposals.
The initiative is a cornerstone of the administration’s broader “Make America Safe Again” mission, aiming to create blueprints for law enforcement that can be replicated across the nation.
“This administration is leveraging every authority to ensure the safety of all Americans,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche in a statement accompanying the announcement. “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.”
Unlike traditional, narrowly focused federal grants, the MCI program allows selected cities to distribute funds across a vast spectrum of public safety, law enforcement technology, and community support systems.
According to DOJ guidelines, the allowable activities under the grant include:
Personnel & Hiring: Funding the recruitment and retention of both sworn officers and non-sworn personnel explicitly tied to violent crime reduction.
Advanced Technology: Purchasing or leasing cutting-edge equipment, including artificial intelligence systems, real-time crime centers, license plate readers, body-worn cameras, and small unmanned aircraft systems (drones).
Mental Health & Reentry: Funding substance abuse and mental health services both in the community and within correctional facilities, alongside transitional support programs aimed at lowering recidivism rates.
Infrastructure & Infrastructure Upgrades: Covering lease or renovation costs for operational spaces like intelligence analysis centers or crisis service delivery sites.
Victim & Youth Services: Providing emergency housing, legal aid, and childcare for crime victims, as well as gang intervention and delinquency prevention programs for at-risk youth.
To qualify for a piece of the $300 million pool, applicant cities cannot rely on piecemeal requests from individual agencies. Instead, the DOJ is mandating a unified front.
Mayors, county prosecutors, local sheriffs, and community leaders must collaborate to submit a single, comprehensive vision detailing exactly how the multi-million dollar influx will be strategically deployed across law enforcement, the judicial system, and preventative social services.
The Justice Department indicated that the selection process will be multi-phased, with initial award decisions expected in late 2026.
City leaders looking to review the specific criteria or submit application materials can access the guidelines via the official department portal at www.justice.gov/grants.
