SAFE Cities Act

Key Points

• This bill would require the Attorney General to create and publish a list of "anarchist jurisdictions" — cities or states deemed to not be doing enough to stop violence or property destruction. The first list would be due just 14 days after the bill becomes law, with updates every 180 days.
• A jurisdiction could be labeled "anarchist" if it limits where police can operate, cuts police budgets, has policies restricting law enforcement from intervening during violence, or refuses federal law enforcement help.
• Cities and states placed on this list would face restrictions on federal grant money. Federal agencies would be directed to deny or disfavor grant applications from labeled jurisdictions to the maximum extent the law allows.
• The bill uses federal dollars as leverage to pressure local governments into maintaining certain policing standards. The broad and subjective definition of "anarchist jurisdiction" gives the Attorney General significant discretion in deciding which cities end up on the list.