DOJ Launches $300 Million ‘Model Cities’ Initiative To Reduce Crime & Improve Public Safety

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is offering approximately $300 million in funding through its fiscal year 2026 Model Cities Initiative (MCI), a competitive grant program designed to help selected cities reduce violent crime, improve public safety, and serve as examples of DOJ-supported public safety strategies. DOJ anticipates selecting between two and four cities through the process, with awards structured as 36-month cooperative agreements. Applications are due by September 1, 2026.

The initiative cites recent federal law enforcement surges in Memphis, Tennessee, and Washington, D.C., as examples of the results DOJ says can be achieved through . . .