Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan (R-OH) has taken a significant step towards impeding the investigations into former President Donald Trump by formally proposing budget cuts aimed at defunding multiple prosecutors and agencies involved. In a detailed letter to Chairman Tom Cole (R-OK) of the Committee on Appropriations, Jordan outlined his strategy to incorporate these cuts in the fiscal year 2025 appropriations bills, citing the prevention of what he calls the “weaponization” of government under President Joe Biden.
Jordan’s recommendations include imposing restrictions on funds allocated to special counsel Jack Smith and severing federal funding to certain local prosecutors, notably New York County District Attorney Alvin Bragg and Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis. His rationale ties back to a broader critique of what he perceives as political misuse of prosecutorial power, told Axios.
“We recommend that the Appropriations Committee, with appropriate consultation from leadership, include language to eliminate federal funding for state prosecutors or state attorneys general involved in lawfare and to zero out federal funding for federal prosecutors engaged in such abuse,” Jordan stated in the letter.
The Judiciary chair did not stop at recommendations concerning prosecutors; he also targeted the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Jordan proposed limiting the FBI’s funding strictly to what is “essential for the agency to execute its mission.” This includes rescinding previous appropriations and blocking any new taxpayer funding for potential FBI infrastructure, such as a new headquarters facility.
Furthermore, Jordan addressed what he described as the Biden Administration’s “open-border immigration policies.” He criticized these policies as facilitators of illegal entries into the United States, which he argues undermine national security and public safety. His letter suggests that curtailing funding for these policies is also imperative.
Jordan’s proposed language for the appropriations bills reflects an aggressive legislative strategy to curb what he and his committee believe are egregious abuses and misallocations of federal law enforcement resources. By aiming to defund the prosecutorial efforts against Trump, Jordan is making a clear statement about his priorities and the political lines being drawn in Congress over the investigations into the former president. These budget recommendations signal a deepening divide in how justice and accountability are perceived across the aisle, setting the stage for potentially heated debates as the appropriations process unfolds.