Senate Appropriators protect critical funding for ATF and community violence intervention

WASHINGTON —  GIFFORDS, the national gun violence prevention group led by former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, released the following statement on the Senate Appropriations Committee’s advancement of the FY2026 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. With bipartisan support, the funding bill keeps the funding levels for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) at current funding levels and gives Community Based Violence Intervention and Prevention Initiative (CVIPI) grants a $5 million increase.

“Today, we are grateful that Republicans and Democrats alike recognized the critical work the ATF does every single day to stop violent gun crime. GIFFORDS applauds the bipartisan effort to maintain funding for the ATF and federal law enforcement, which we know struggle to keep American communities safe with even their current resources,” said GIFFORDS Executive Director Emma Brown. “We thank Senate Appropriators for funding Community Based Violence Intervention and Prevention Initiative grants that support lifesaving work in communities across the country. Community violence intervention programs are integral in the fight to stop gun violence and this funding is essential for them.”