Police budgets in many US cities take a large share of general spending, often more than housing, youth programs or public health combined. Defund the police asks cities to shift that money toward services that address the causes of harm, and to stop sending armed officers to problems like homelessness, addiction and mental health crises.
The slogan spread widely in the summer of 2020. Some cities, including Minneapolis, Austin and Los Angeles, announced cuts or transfers. Many of those changes were later reversed or offset as political pressure grew and crime rose during the pandemic years.
The phrase means different things to different people. For some, it is a step toward police abolition. For others, it means reallocating part of the budget. Opponents use it to suggest that its supporters want no response to crime. Lasting results include unarmed crisis response teams and violence interruption programs that now operate in many cities.