Department of Peacebuilding Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Representative Omar
Introduced
Summary
Creates a Department of Peacebuilding that would make peacebuilding a federal mission and set up new programs to prevent and reduce violence domestically and internationally.
Show full summary
- Families and communities would get new local funding through a Community Peace Block Grant program to support school and neighborhood conflict resolution, community policing reforms, re-entry services for people leaving prison, mental health, and peaceful family dynamics.
- Educators and students would see Peace Education Grants for K–12 through higher education to build peace curricula, expand peace studies, train teachers, and support a public-facing Peace Academy.
- Federal policy, research, and diplomacy would change as the bill would add a Secretary of Peacebuilding to the National Security Council, require consultation with State and Defense on actions that could lead to violence, create offices for research, arms control, technology for peace, and human and economic rights, publish studies and a monthly journal, and fund cultural diplomacy and international exchange grants while directing that at least 85 percent of appropriated funds be used for domestic peace programs.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
9 provisions identified: 8 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Most funding must be domestic
If enacted, the bill would authorize whatever sums Congress later provides to run the Department. Of any money Congress appropriates under this authorization, at least 85% would have to be used for domestic peace programs, including related administrative costs. The authorization would still require future annual appropriations to fund specific programs.
New Department of Peacebuilding
If enacted, the bill would create a Department of Peacebuilding led by a Cabinet-level Secretary appointed by the President with Senate confirmation. The Secretary would join the National Security Council and the Department would have an Inspector General for oversight. The bill would also create an interagency committee and an Intergovernmental Advisory Council to coordinate with state, Tribal, and local leaders. The first Secretary would have one year after appointment to send Congress recommended statutory changes to implement the Act.
Community Peace Block Grant program
If enacted, the bill would create a Community Peace Block Grant program to give grants to nonprofits and NGOs. Grants would fund innovative school and neighborhood programs for nonviolent conflict resolution and help create local peacebuilding initiatives. Local groups could apply for funding to support community-based violence-prevention work.
Required consultation on conflicts
If enacted, the bill would require the Secretaries of Defense and State to consult with the Secretary of Peacebuilding when a conflict is foreseeable, imminent, or occurring. The Secretary of Peacebuilding would set a formal, timely consultation process before policies or resource withdrawals that may lead to violence. The requirement would also apply before the distribution of Department of Defense equipment to local or State law enforcement and when agencies draft treaties and peace agreements.
Research and human-rights office
If enacted, the bill would create an Office of Human Rights and Economic Rights to document abuses, advise on labor rights, and analyze how resource scarcity can drive conflict. It would also create an Office of Peacebuilding Information and Research to study media effects, gun violence, and deaths involving law enforcement. Those offices would publish reports, a monthly journal, and make research available to Congress and the public.
Unarmed civilian peacekeeper program
If enacted, the bill would require the Department to set up a budget for training and deploying unarmed civilian peacekeepers to join multinational nonviolent missions. The budget would support recruiting, training, and deployments run by civilian, government, or multilateral organizations. The program would take effect upon enactment.
Cultural exchange grants for schools
If enacted, the bill would create two Cultural Diplomacy for Peace grant programs for domestic and international exchanges. Grants would fund arts, sports, science, and other exchange programs for pre-K through higher education institutions, nonprofits, and government organizations. These grants would begin upon enactment and aim to build understanding between communities and nations.
Grants for peace technology research
If enacted, the bill would let the Assistant Secretary for Technology for Peace award grants for research in transportation, communications, agriculture, medicine, and energy. Grants must fund nonviolent technologies that encourage conservation and sustainability to help prevent resource-related conflicts. The program would support research and development for a green, peaceful economy.
Peace education and service academy
If enacted, the bill would create Peace Education grants for pre-K through higher education to build peace studies and train teachers in conflict resolution. The bill would also establish a Federal Peace Academy with a four-year program in peace education. Graduates of the academy would be required to serve five years in public service in nonviolent conflict-resolution programs after graduation.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Omar
MN • D
Cosponsors
Bonamici
OR • D
Sponsored 2/7/2025
Carson
IN • D
Sponsored 2/7/2025
Garcia (IL)
IL • D
Sponsored 2/7/2025
Grijalva
AZ • D
Sponsored 2/7/2025
Jackson (IL)
IL • D
Sponsored 2/7/2025
Johnson (GA)
GA • D
Sponsored 2/7/2025
Kelly (IL)
IL • D
Sponsored 2/7/2025
McGovern
MA • D
Sponsored 2/7/2025
Moore (WI)
WI • D
Sponsored 2/7/2025
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 2/7/2025
Ramirez
IL • D
Sponsored 2/7/2025
Schakowsky
IL • D
Sponsored 2/7/2025
Tlaib
MI • D
Sponsored 2/7/2025
Velazquez
NY • D
Sponsored 2/7/2025
McIver
NJ • D
Sponsored 2/7/2025
Watson Coleman
NJ • D
Sponsored 2/7/2025
Swalwell
CA • D
Sponsored 2/7/2025
Turner (TX)
TX • D
Sponsored 2/7/2025
Ocasio-Cortez
NY • D
Sponsored 2/11/2025
Stansbury
NM • D
Sponsored 2/12/2025
Clarke (NY)
NY • D
Sponsored 2/24/2025
Quigley
IL • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Davis (IL)
IL • D
Sponsored 2/26/2025
Nadler
NY • D
Sponsored 3/3/2025
Vargas
CA • D
Sponsored 3/3/2025
Jayapal
WA • D
Sponsored 3/10/2025
Pingree
ME • D
Sponsored 3/11/2025
Jacobs
CA • D
Sponsored 3/11/2025
DeSaulnier
CA • D
Sponsored 3/21/2025
Cohen
TN • D
Sponsored 4/17/2025
Carter (LA)
LA • D
Sponsored 4/17/2025
Thompson (MS)
MS • D
Sponsored 5/14/2025
Pressley
MA • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Chu
CA • D
Sponsored 5/19/2025
Lieu
CA • D
Sponsored 5/29/2025
Lee (PA)
PA • D
Sponsored 5/29/2025
Waters
CA • D
Sponsored 6/9/2025
Simon
CA • D
Sponsored 10/14/2025
Goldman (NY)
NY • D
Sponsored 10/28/2025
Thanedar
MI • D
Sponsored 2/9/2026
Adams
NC • D
Sponsored 2/24/2026
Escobar
TX • D
Sponsored 3/17/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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