Lawless Cities Accountability Act of 2025

The Lawless Cities Accountability Act of 2025 would withhold all federal funds from any state or local jurisdiction that the Attorney General designates as a “lawless jurisdiction.” The AG would must periodically determine which jurisdictions meet that label (initial determinations within 30 days of enactment and at least quarterly thereafter) and publicly explain each determination. Funds could be reinstated when the AG determines the jurisdiction is no longer lawless or 180 days have passed after the initial lawless designation, whichever comes later. The bill defines a lawless jurisdiction by conditions related to law enforcement and federal assistance, such as prohibiting police intervention during violence, withdrawing protection from areas that officers are entitled to access, disempowering or defunding law enforcement, or rejecting federal law enforcement help during widespread unrest. In short, the act would use federal funding as leverage to compel jurisdictions to maintain or restore order and cooperate with federal law enforcement assistance. The impact would be that some states or localities could lose access to various federal dollars until the AG determines they are no longer “lawless,” with transparency requirements for the determinations.