On Monday, April 28, President Trump signed two executive orders with significant implications for local governments and law enforcement agencies.
The first, Protecting American Communities from Criminal Aliens, directs federal agencies to publicly list state and local jurisdictions that limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement and to withhold or terminate certain federal funds from those jurisdictions where legally permissible. The second, Strengthening and Unleashing America’s Law Enforcement to Pursue Criminals and Protect Innocent Citizens, directs federal agencies to expand support for state and local law enforcement by increasing training opportunities, providing surplus military equipment, enhancing legal protections for officers and reviewing federal consent decrees that may limit policing activities.
Both Executive Orders come just days after the Department of Justice canceled hundreds of criminal justice grant programs that support local government focus on transparency, officer wellness and community engagement to improve safety outcomes and strengthen trust between police and the communities they serve. In tandem, these federal actions expose local governments to immediate financial risks, potential legal action and heightened political and operational pressures.
Similar federal actions have already faced judicial scrutiny, including an April 24, 2025 ruling by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals (PDF) that temporarily blocked enforcement of a related executive order aimed at denying funds to non-cooperative jurisdictions.
NLC continues to actively monitor the implementation of the new Executive Orders and the legal challenges that are expected to arise, and will develop resources to help navigate potential impacts on local governments.
Stay Connected
NLC is currently in the process of updating our Presidential Actions Impact to Local Governments Resource page to improve the user experience for municipal officials and staff. The new and revamped page will be easier to navigate and offer more analysis and access to resources to keep local governments informed and prepared to take action. This current resource will not be updated with new information until mid-July and will be refreshed with a brand-new look. Until then, we will be informing members of any new actions through primer blogs.
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