Congresswoman Lucy McBath and Congressman Bobby Scott have taken a stand against the Trump Administration’s proposal to eliminate the Community Relations Service (CRS), known as “America’s Peacemaker.” The two lawmakers, joined by 24 other House Democrats, addressed their concerns in a letter to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi.
The CRS was established under the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and has been instrumental in resolving community conflicts by bringing together law enforcement and local communities. “CRS plays a critical role in responding to community conflict and is known as ‘America’s Peacemaker’ with field offices across the country to maximize their accessibility and impact for all communities,” stated the lawmakers. They urged Bondi to reconsider any plans that would dissolve the service.
The letter emphasized CRS’s recent efforts in preventing violence, including its role during national political conventions in Milwaukee and Chicago in 2024. It highlighted how CRS worked with various groups to reduce tension and ensure First Amendment rights were protected. The Members of Congress also noted CRS’s contribution to campus safety and protection of places of worship after high-profile attacks.
The CRS has been expanded through bipartisan laws like the Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Act signed by President Bush in 2008. The lawmakers expressed concern over previous attempts during Trump’s administration to cut back on CRS by proposing its elimination from budgets and reducing staff numbers.
“We are aware that during the previous Trump Administration there was a similar effort to abandon the valuable work of the Community Relations Service by recommending its elimination in budget proposals and reducing staffing,” they wrote, urging Attorney General Bondi to reconsider any such measures.
The letter received support from several other representatives including Bennie Thompson, Nydia Velázquez, Danny Davis, Betty McCollum, Steve Cohen, Eleanor Norton, Yvette Clarke, Judy Chu, Robin Kelly, Terri Sewell, Pramila Jayapal, Henry Johnson, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Donald Beyer, Jasmine Crockett, Jonathan Jackson, Jennifer McClellan, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ayanna Pressley, Mary Gay Scanlon, Nikema Williams, Shomari Figures, LaMonica McIver, and Summer Lee.
