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119-hr-3920119th Congress

Lawless Cities Accountability Act of 2025

Sponsored By: Representative Mace, Nancy [R-SC-1]

Introduced

Summary

Blocks federal funding to jurisdictions labeled "lawless." This bill would bar federal money to any State or local government the Attorney General finds meets one of four "lawless" tests and sets rules for how and when funding can be cut off or restored.

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  • State and local governments: Jurisdictions found "lawless" would lose access to federal funds and could only receive funds again after the later of 180 days from the first determination or when the Attorney General says the jurisdiction is no longer lawless.
  • Attorney General and federal oversight: The Attorney General would have to identify lawless jurisdictions within 30 days after enactment and issue updates at least quarterly, with public explanations for each determination.
  • Law enforcement and local policy: A jurisdiction meets the bill's test if it forbids law enforcement from restoring order, withdraws law enforcement protection from areas officers may lawfully access, defunds or disempowers police, or refuses federal law enforcement help amid widespread violence.
  • Residents and local programs: Programs that depend on federal funding in a designated jurisdiction would be affected while the funding bar is in place, subject to the timing and reinstatement rules above.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Federal funds could stop for lawless areas

This bill would block federal funds to any state or local area the Attorney General calls a "lawless jurisdiction." The Attorney General would publish the first list within 30 days of enactment and update it at least every three months, with reasons. A listed area would not get federal money again until the later of 180 days after the first listing or when the Attorney General says it is no longer lawless. An area could be labeled lawless if it stops police from restoring order during widespread violence, pulls back police access to places they are allowed to enter (except brief tactical pauses for safety), cuts or disempowers police, or refuses federal help during sustained violence when unable to restore order. If passed, residents and local governments in listed areas could lose grants, services, and other federal support while the label is in place.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Mace, Nancy [R-SC-1]

SC • R

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Gill, Brandon [R-TX-26]

    TX • R

    Sponsored 6/11/2025

  • Rep. Wied, Tony [R-WI-8]

    WI • R

    Sponsored 6/11/2025

  • Rep. Collins, Mike [R-GA-10]

    GA • R

    Sponsored 6/13/2025

  • Rep. Steube, W. Gregory [R-FL-17]

    FL • R

    Sponsored 6/17/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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