Justice Department offers $300 million police surge grants tied to conservative conditions

The Justice Department’s Model Cities policing initiative will award up to four cities a portion of $300 million in grants to fund expanded police deployments modeled after Washington DC and Memphis. To qualify, municipalities must abandon progressive policing philosophies, cooperate with federal immigration enforcement, enforce bans on open drug use, urban camping and loitering, and agree to potentially repay costs if federal forces are later deployed for violence or unrest.

The program, funded by Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill, differs from past grants by being evaluated by senior political appointees rather than peer review. Critics, including Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed and Billings council member Karen Jarussi, argue the conditions undermine local autonomy and prioritize ideology over public-health solutions. The Justice Department declined to comment on the repayment clause or whether any applications have been received, but officials say they are ready to field applications from interested jurisdictions.