Ford Proposes 12.7% Cut in LEAA Budget for Fiscal 1977

Sep 21, 2026

Uploaded by Aurora

Federal budget proposals by President Gerald Ford call for a 12.7% reduction to the Law Enforcement Assistance Administration (LEAA) for fiscal year 1977, amounting to a $102.7 million cut. The request reflects a more evaluative, cautious approach to federal financial assistance, with the steepest declines in block and discretionary grants, the Law Enforcement Education Program, and parts of juvenile justice funding. A transition schedule keeps FY 1976 dates while FY 1977 begins Oct. 1.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

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Pages3

Reading Time8 min

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FY 1977 LEAA budget request

Proposed cuts and program impacts

Budget timelines and totals

Al Al NCCD 411 HACKENSACK AVE.HACKENSACK,N.J.07601 Po Pres.Ford Asks 12.7%Cut in LEAA Budget for Fiscal 1977;Also Seeks New Prisons,Lower Subsidy for Training of LocalPolice,Plus New Priorities for FBI&DEA Investigations For the second consecutive year President Gerald Ford has proposed a deep slash in the Law En-forcement Assistance Administration budget.The fiscal year 1977 budget request sent to Congress today(Jan.21)reflects a “cautious,more evaluative approach to[LEAA]financial assistance to state and localcriminal justice improvement programs,"according to Deputy U.S.Attorney General Harold R.Tyler,Jr.This 'new approach'translates into a cut of $102.7 million or-12.7%for FY 1977 as compared tothe current fiscal year,with the ax falling heaviest on block and discretionary grants,the Law Enforce-ment Education Program,and new Juvenile Justice Act spending. Funds allocated for fiscal year 1976 include an extra amount earmarked for the transition periodfrom the current to the new fiscal year schedule.Thus,FY 1976 covers the traditional dates,from July 1,1975 through June 30,1976,plus the transition period of July 1 through Sept.30,1976.Fiscal 1977will begin on Oct.1,1976,and henceforth the federal fiscal year will start on Oct.1 annually. The FY 1977 budget request for LEAA is S707,944,000,down from an estimated S810,677,000 inthe current fiscal year.Tyler explained that,"This request reflects the more cautious approach to stateand local assistance programs at a time when their impact on crime and criminal justice must be reassessed.”At the press conference on the new budget,Glen E.Pommerening,assistant attorney general for adminis-tration,said the LEAA decrease stemmed from joint consultations between the Justice Department,LEAAand the Office of Management and Budget (the President's budget control agency)-but his replies seemedto indicate that OMB was the main force behind the budget cut.As in past years,Tyler took careful noteof the fact that the actual outlay of LEAA funds in FY 1977 would total some $839 million,a higherfigure than the level of budget authority requested because of the addition of carryover monies from ear-lier appropriations. Highlights of the proposed FY 1977 LEAA budget include:a $59.7 million drop in the amountsought for Part C block grants;a $24.7 million cut in discretionary grant programs;elimination of the LawEnforcement Education Program;a reduction of $29.3 million in the sum requested for new programsunder the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974.While the LEEP effort is scheduledfor the scrapheap,Tyler pointed out that the $40 million allocated for the transition period will “insurefull support for LEEP participants in the 1976-77 academic year."The Administration tried to dropLEEP in last year's budget request,but Congress,responding to the program's popularity back in the dis-tricts,voted $40 million for LEEP from unspent funds reprogrammed from other LEAA functions.(CJN 9/29/75) | Law Enforcement Assistance Administration Appropriations FY 19741977 | | | | | 1977
(Requested) | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Fiscal Year
(In Millions of Dollars) | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | Transition | | | Block Grants(Part C)
Discretionary Grants(Part C)
Planning(Part B) | $480.3
88.8
50.0 | $480.0
84.0
55.0 | $405.4
71.6
60.0 | $84.7
14.9
12.0 | $345.7
61.0
60.0 | | High Crime Areas(New Part C)
Correctional Grants(Part E)
Technical Assistance | 113.0
12.0 | 113.0
14.0 | 95.5
13.0 | 21.0
2.5 | 50.0
81.3
13.0 | | Research Evaluation and Technology(National Institute)
Educational Assistance(Includes LEEP) | 40.0
45.0 | 42.5
44.5 | 32.4
43.3 | 7.0
40.6 | 32.0
5.0 | | Data System and Statistical Assistance | 24.0 | 26.0 | 25.6 | 6.0 | 24.5 | | Juvenile Justice Act

FAQs

What is the proposed size of the LEAA budget cut for FY 1977?

The proposal would cut the LEAA budget by $102.7 million, a 12.7% reduction compared with the current fiscal year.

Which LEAA areas face the largest declines in the FY 1977 request?

The largest impacts include block and discretionary grants, the Law Enforcement Education Program (scheduled for elimination), and reduced funding for new juvenile justice programs.

When does the federal fiscal year begin under the described schedule?

Fiscal 1977 begins on Oct. 1, 1976, and the federal fiscal year will start on Oct. 1 annually from then on.

Sep 21, 2026

Uploaded by Aurora