The Department of Justice yesterday identified New York City, Seattle, and Portland, Oregon as jurisdictions that have permitted “Anarchy, Violence and Destruction in American Cities,” and whose funding would therefore be subject to review. This is pursuant to a memorandum that President Donald Trump had issued on Sept. 2, which called for a review of funding to state and local governments in which acts of violence, anarchy and destruction take place.
Attorney General Bill Barr explained in announcing this measure that when state and local leaders “impede their own law enforcement and agencies from doing their jobs, it endangers innocent citizens who deserve to be protected, including those who are trying to peacefully assemble and protest.” Therefore, “we cannot allow federal tax dollars to be wasted when the safety of citizenry hangs in the balance.” Barr expressed the hope that the announced action will encourage the named cities to “reverse course and become serious about performing the basic function of government and start protecting their own citizens.” Implicit in his remarks was the message that other cities are likely to be similarly characterized. There was some expectation that Washington, D.C. would be included with the other three, but that could occur in the future.
