ExecutiveOrdersEO
EO 13929Executive OrderTrump 45 · R

Executive Order 13929

Safe Policing for Safe Communities

This executive order ties certain federal law enforcement grants to state and local agencies meeting credentialing standards on use-of-force policies, including a prohibition on chokeholds except where deadly force is legally permitted. It also directs creation of a national database tracking officer decertifications, convictions, and civil judgments for excessive force; and promotes co-responder programs and training for encounters involving mental health, homelessness, and addiction.

Federal Register Open PDF 85 FR 37325

Impact dates

  1. HHS Secretary submits survey report on community-support models with funding recommendations

Key directives

  • Condition DOJ discretionary grant funding on state/local agencies seeking credentials from AG-certified independent bodies
  • AG to certify independent credentialing bodies setting standards on use-of-force, de-escalation, early warning systems, and community engagement
  • Certification standards must confirm use-of-force policies prohibit chokeholds except where deadly force is allowed by law
  • AG to create database tracking excessive force instances, officer terminations/de-certifications, criminal convictions, civil judgments, and resignations/retirements under active investigation
  • AG to make aggregated anonymized database data publicly available
  • HHS to survey community-support models for mental health, homelessness, and addiction
  • HHS to report survey results with funding recommendations within 90 days
  • AG and HHS to develop co-responder programs and train officers for mental health/homelessness/addiction encounters
  • AG to propose new legislation enhancing law enforcement grant programs and community engagement tools

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

  • Attorney General directed to allocate DOJ discretionary grants only to credentialed agencies (conditioned on seeking certification)
  • Attorney General directed to allocate DOJ discretionary grants only to agencies submitting database information
  • Secretary of HHS to begin survey of community-support models

Near term (90d)

  • Secretary of HHS must submit report summarizing survey results with recommendations on fund reallocation and additional funding needs (by September 14, 2020)

Long term

  • Attorney General to create national database on excessive use of force and officer decertifications/convictions/civil judgments
  • Attorney General to develop and propose new legislation to Congress on law enforcement grants and community engagement
  • Potential implementation of community-support models based on HHS report recommendations
  • Development of co-responder programs and expanded social worker capacity in law enforcement agencies

Risks & tensions

  • Grant conditioning relies on 'discretionary' funding, limiting scope; does not affect mandatory funding streams
  • Chokehold prohibition has exception 'where use of deadly force is allowed by law,' creating potential loophole
  • Database depends on voluntary agency submissions for grant eligibility, not universal mandatory reporting
  • No enforcement mechanism for agencies that decline federal grants; large departments may be less affected
  • Vague standards ('as appropriate,' 'consistent with applicable law') leave significant discretion to Attorney General
  • HHS report deadline is clear but implementation of recommendations depends on future appropriations and prioritization
  • EO explicitly disclaims creating enforceable rights, limiting judicial recourse for non-compliance
Executive Order 13929: Safe Policing for Safe Communities · Executive Orders