Documents › Executive orders › 14288
Executive Order 14288
Strengthening and Unleashing America's Law Enforcement To Pursue Criminals and Protect Innocent Citizens
Signed April 28, 2025, printed at 90 FR 18765. 6 sections of substance, 955 words.
This order backs the police. It offers legal help to officers and more gear to forces.
Sec. 1. Purpose and Policy
Safe communities rely on the backbone and heroism of a tough and well-equipped police force. My Administration is steadfastly committed to empowering State and local law enforcement to firmly police dangerous criminal behavior and protect innocent citizens. When local leaders demonize law enforcement and impose legal and political handcuffs that make aggressively enforcing the law impossible, crime thrives and innocent citizens and small business owners suffer. My Administration will therefore: establish best practices at the State and local level for cities to unleash high-impact local police forces; protect and defend law enforcement officers wrongly accused and abused by State or local officials; and surge resources to officers in need. My Administration will work to ensure that law enforcement officers across America focus on ending crime, not pursuing harmful, illegal race- and
Safe communities rely on the backbone and heroism of a tough and well-equipped police force. My Administration is steadfastly committed to empowering State and local law enforcement to firmly police dangerous criminal behavior and protect innocent citizens. When local leaders demonize law enforcement and impose legal and political handcuffs that make aggressively enforcing the law impossible, crime thrives and innocent citizens and small business owners suffer. My Administration will therefore: establish best practices at the State and local level for cities to unleash high-impact local police forces; protect and defend law enforcement officers wrongly accused and abused by State or local officials; and surge resources to officers in need. My Administration will work to ensure that law enforcement officers across America focus on ending crime, not pursuing harmful, illegal race- and
This sets out the case the order makes. It says safe towns rest on a strong police force. It says local leaders have tied officers' hands. It says crime rises where that happens. It promises best practice guidance for cities. It promises to defend officers wrongly accused.
Sec. 2. Legal Defense of Law Enforcement Officers
The Attorney General shall take all appropriate action to create a mechanism to provide legal resources and indemnification to law enforcement officers who unjustly incur expenses and liabilities for actions taken during the performance of their official duties to enforce the law. This mechanism shall include the use of private-sector pro bono assistance for such law enforcement officers.
The Attorney General shall take all appropriate action to create a mechanism to provide legal resources and indemnification to law enforcement officers who unjustly incur expenses and liabilities for actions taken during the performance of their official duties to enforce the law. This mechanism shall include the use of private-sector pro bono assistance for such law enforcement officers.
This offers legal help to police. Justice must build a way to provide it. Officers sometimes face costs unfairly. Some face legal claims. The trigger must be acts done on duty. Enforcing the law is the setting. Legal resources would be given. Costs would be covered. Free help from private lawyers is part of it.
Sec. 3. Empowering State and Local Law Enforcement
(a) The Attorney General and other appropriate heads of executive departments and agencies (agencies) shall take all appropriate action to maximize the use of Federal resources to: (i) provide new best practices to State and local law enforcement to aggressively police communities against all crimes; (ii) expand access and improve the quality of training available to State and local law enforcement; (iii) increase pay and benefits for law enforcement officers; (iv) strengthen and expand legal protections for law enforcement officers; (v) seek enhanced sentences for crimes against law enforcement officers; (vi) promote investment in the security and capacity of prisons; and (vii) increase the investment in and collection, distribution, and uniformity of crime data across jurisdictions. (b) Within 60 days of the date of this order, the Attorney General shall review all ongoing Federal
(a) The Attorney General and other appropriate heads of executive departments and agencies (agencies) shall take all appropriate action to maximize the use of Federal resources to: (i) provide new best practices to State and local law enforcement to aggressively police communities against all crimes; (ii) expand access and improve the quality of training available to State and local law enforcement; (iii) increase pay and benefits for law enforcement officers; (iv) strengthen and expand legal protections for law enforcement officers; (v) seek enhanced sentences for crimes against law enforcement officers; (vi) promote investment in the security and capacity of prisons; and (vii) increase the investment in and collection, distribution, and uniformity of crime data across jurisdictions. (b) Within 60 days of the date of this order, the Attorney General shall review all ongoing Federal
This is about state and local police. Agencies must steer federal help to them. That covers training and pay. It covers stronger legal cover for officers. Longer terms for crimes against them are named. Prison capacity is on the list. So is better crime data. A review follows in 60 days.
Sec. 4. Using National Security Assets for Law and Order
(a) Within 90 days of the date of this order, the Attorney General and the Secretary [[Page 18766]] of Defense, in consultation with the Secretary of Homeland Security and the heads of agencies as appropriate, shall increase the provision of excess military and national security assets in local jurisdictions to assist State and local law enforcement. (b) Within 90 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Attorney General, shall determine how military and national security assets, training, non-lethal capabilities, and personnel can most effectively be utilized to prevent crime.
(a) Within 90 days of the date of this order, the Attorney General and the Secretary [[Page 18766]] of Defense, in consultation with the Secretary of Homeland Security and the heads of agencies as appropriate, shall increase the provision of excess military and national security assets in local jurisdictions to assist State and local law enforcement. (b) Within 90 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Attorney General, shall determine how military and national security assets, training, non-lethal capabilities, and personnel can most effectively be utilized to prevent crime.
This is about surplus military gear. Within 90 days two agency heads must send more of it to local police. Homeland Security advises them. Within the same period Defense must study its options. That covers training and non lethal tools. The aim is to help prevent crime.
Sec. 5. Holding State and Local Officials Accountable
The Attorney General shall pursue all necessary legal remedies and enforcement measures to enforce the rights of Americans impacted by crime and shall prioritize prosecution of any applicable violations of Federal criminal law with respect to State and local jurisdictions whose officials: (a) willfully and unlawfully direct the obstruction of criminal law, including by directly and unlawfully prohibiting law enforcement officers from carrying out duties necessary for public safety and law enforcement; or (b) unlawfully engage in discrimination or civil- rights violations under the guise of ``diversity, equity, and inclusion'' initiatives that restrict law enforcement activity or endanger citizens.
The Attorney General shall pursue all necessary legal remedies and enforcement measures to enforce the rights of Americans impacted by crime and shall prioritize prosecution of any applicable violations of Federal criminal law with respect to State and local jurisdictions whose officials: (a) willfully and unlawfully direct the obstruction of criminal law, including by directly and unlawfully prohibiting law enforcement officers from carrying out duties necessary for public safety and law enforcement; or (b) unlawfully engage in discrimination or civil- rights violations under the guise of ``diversity, equity, and inclusion'' initiatives that restrict law enforcement activity or endanger citizens.
This targets local officials. The Attorney General must press cases against them. That covers officials who block the law. Barring officers from doing their work is named. It also covers bias done under a DEI label. The test is whether it puts people at risk.
Sec. 6. Use of Homeland Security Task Forces
The Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security shall utilize the Homeland Security Task Forces (HSTFs) formed in accordance with Executive Order 14159 of January 20, 2025 (Protecting the American People Against Invasion) to coordinate and advance the objectives of this order.
The Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security shall utilize the Homeland Security Task Forces (HSTFs) formed in accordance with Executive Order 14159 of January 20, 2025 (Protecting the American People Against Invasion) to coordinate and advance the objectives of this order.
This uses existing task forces. A January 2025 order created them. Homeland security task forces is their name. Justice must use them here. Homeland Security must use them too. They would coordinate the work. They would carry the aims of this order forward.
Sec. 7. General Provisions
Every order carries this. It is not what the order does.
(a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect: (i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or (ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals. (b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations. (c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person. [[Page 18767]] (d) The Department of Justice shall provide funding for this order's publication in the Federal Register. <GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT> (Presidential Sig.) THE WHITE
(a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect: (i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or (ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals. (b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations. (c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person. [[Page 18767]] (d) The Department of Justice shall provide funding for this order's publication in the Federal Register. <GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT> (Presidential Sig.) THE WHITE
This is the closing clause that nearly every order carries. It says the order does not change what the law already allows. It also says no one can sue to enforce it.
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