By: Richard L. Smith
New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin is voicing sharp criticism after the Trump Administration moved to cut federal funding earmarked for state programs aimed at curbing hate crimes, violence, and opioid addiction.
In a statement released this week, Platkin called the decision "reckless" and vowed to pursue efforts to restore the lost support.
According to information from the Attorney General’s Office, the federal clawback targets grants that fund several critical initiatives, including New Jersey’s “No Hate in the Garden State” campaign, community violence intervention programs, and opioid abuse prevention services.
These programs, state officials say, have contributed to measurable declines in violent crime across several cities in New Jersey.
“Instead of helping to keep our residents safe, the Trump Administration is once again cruelly clawing back critical public safety funding for our state,” Platkin said.
“Cutting critical initiatives to fight hate crimes, to prevent violence in our communities, and to combat opioid abuse is as reckless as it is dangerous.”
New Jersey has seen progress in public safety in recent years.
RLS Media found that according to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting data, New Jersey recorded some of its lowest violent crime rates in over half a century as of 2023.
State officials credit targeted intervention programs, grant-funded local initiatives, and public awareness efforts with helping reduce incidents of hate-based violence and overdoses statewide.
“Make no mistake,” Platkin added, “Our office remains firmly committed to these priorities and to protecting all New Jerseyans, and we will do everything in our power to restore access to this funding and fight back against reckless federal cuts that do nothing but make our state less safe.”
As federal and state officials continue to clash over public safety funding priorities, Platkin’s office emphasized that New Jersey will explore all legal and policy avenues to maintain its progress in crime prevention and addiction treatment.