Break the Cycle of Violence Act

This bill funds local, community-led programs to prevent shootings and help people at highest risk of violence. It creates federal grants for nonprofits and local governments to run proven strategies like outreach, conflict mediation, hospital-based support for victims, trauma care, and job and education pathways—without adding to mass incarceration. Grants must focus on people at high risk and use evidence-informed, trauma‑responsive approaches that expand opportunity through jobs, training, or school connections . Local governments that get grants must pass most funds to community groups or non‑police public safety agencies, and hospitals must send most funds to direct service providers and staff . The bill also sets up a new federal office, an advisory committee, and a national center to help communities, collect data, share best practices, and evaluate what works .

There is dedicated funding to scale this work: $300 million in 2026, $500 million in 2027, and $700 million each year from 2028–2033 for community violence intervention through Health and Human Services, with 4‑year grants and a typical 90% federal cost share (some exceptions apply) . A separate workforce program provides $1.5 billion (2026–2033) for year‑round job training and apprenticeships for “opportunity youth” in areas hit hardest by gun violence, through eligible nonprofits, tribes, apprenticeships, community colleges, and local governments . The bill encourages states to support victims—especially those often underserved—through existing victim services funding .

Key points

• Who is affected: People at highest risk of violence; survivors; “opportunity youth” seeking jobs or training; community nonprofits; local governments; hospitals providing victim services .
• What changes: New federal grants for community‑based violence prevention; required partnerships that send most dollars to frontline providers; national support office and center; data collection and public reporting on results .
• Funding: HHS violence prevention grants rise from $300M (2026) to $700M annually (2028–2033); workforce grants total $1.5B (2026–2033) .
• When: Grants run in 4‑year cycles; funding spans fiscal years 2026–2033 .
• Guardrails: Priority for strategies that reduce violence without increasing incarceration; most local-government funds must go to community groups or non‑police safety agencies; grants supplement, not replace, existing local funds .