Here’s a List of the Many Times Democrats — Not Republicans — Supported Defunding Police

In the past few days, the Biden Administration has been attempting to shift crime wave blame onto Republicans by accusing them of “defunding the police” — despite evidence to the contrary.

Biden advisor Cedric Richmond first accused Republicans of defunding the police on “Fox News Sunday”:

Let’s talk about who defunded the police. When we were in Congress last year trying to pass a rescue plan — I’m sorry, not the rescue plan but an emergency relief plan for cities that were cash-strapped and laying off police and firefighters — it was the Republicans who objected to it. And in fact, they didn’t get funding until the American Rescue Plan, which our plan allowed state and local governments to replenish their police departments and do the other things that are needed.

So look, Republicans are very good at staying on talking points of who says defund the police, but the truth is, they defunded the police, we funded crime intervention, and a whole bunch of other things. (emphasis added)

During a White House press conference on Monday, Fox News’ Peter Doocy asked White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki if she agreed with Richmond’s assessment:

Well, the president did mention that the American Rescue Plan, the state and local funding, something that was supported by the president, a lot of Democrats who supported and voted for the bill, could help ensure local cops were kept on the beat in communities across the country. As you know, [it] didn’t receive a single Republican vote. That funding has been used to keep cops on the beat. (emphasis added)

A fact check found Richmond and Psakis’ assertion to be misleading and false.


Democrat support for “reallocation of police funds” (AKA defunding) can be seen not only in big city budgets, but also in their rhetoric:



  • President Joe Biden said he supported reallocating police resources during his campaign.
  • Vice President Kamala Harris said “I applaud Eric Garcetti” for defunding the Los Angeles police, and said “we have to reimagine public safety” while discussing lowering the police presence in communities.
  • Biden’s Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta said officials must heed calls to “decrease police budgets and the scope, role, and responsibility of police in our lives.”
  • As Boston Mayor, Biden’s Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh proposed a budget to divert funding from law enforcement.
  • Biden’s Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke wrote an op-ed for Newsweek in 2020 supporting efforts to “defund the police.”
  • Rep. Val Demings (D-FL) called the Minneapolis City Council “very thoughtful” for voting to dismantle the police.
  • House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and fellow House Democrats refused to criticize the Minneapolis City Council for defunding the police.
  • Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) told protestors to “get more confrontational” with police.
  • Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) called for dismantling the Minneapolis Police Department.
  • Rep. Cori Bush (D-MO) called for defunding police as a congresswoman-elect.
  • A Democratic National Convention panelist advocated for defunding the police.
  • A Minneapolis City Council member defended defunding the police, but said she didn’t “have all the answers” on who would respond to violent crime.
  • House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-SC) compared federal law enforcement to the Nazi Gestapo. He later ignored looting and arson in D.C., claiming the only violence he saw in D.C. was from police.
  • Democrat Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said he doesn’t want police officers to respond to rape.
  • Former Rep. Joe Kennedy III (D-MA)  said he supported Maxine Waters’ call to confront the police.

Even though violent crime has risen significantly in the past year, Democrats are still calling for the defunding of police departments around the country: