LANSING, Mich. (March 12, 2025) — This week, representatives from the Michigan State Police provided testimony to the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Military, Veterans, and State Police regarding the impact of the Trump Administration’s hold on $56 million of their operating budget. In response to this testimony, Committee Chair Kevin Hertel (D-St. Clair Shores) issued the following statement:
“Every day our Michigan State Police troopers answer the call to serve, helping keep the highways that we drive on and the communities where we live safe. They also perform essential work preparing for and responding to natural disasters and other emergencies, including tornadoes and flooding events. But now, their ability to do that essential work is being jeopardized by a White House that is turning its back on first responders.
“We send our hard-earned tax dollars to Washington with the expectation that they come back to our state to fund the critical services we depend on. Instead, the Trump administration’s reckless decision to withhold $56 million in critical funding is putting Michigan families at risk. This funding isn’t optional — it’s essential. It’s time for them to release this funding so we can ensure our state police have the staff and resources they need to keep our communities safe.”
In the Legislature, Sen. Hertel has worked to champion legislation to support first responders and build safer communities, including Senate Bill 834, which recognizes the immense sacrifices of public safety officers and their families by doubling survivor benefits for those who are killed or permanently disabled in the line of duty. In the 2024 State Budget, he also secured $40 million for the Macomb County Jail to construct a new central intake and mental health unit to provide better mental and physical health outcomes for those who come in contact with the criminal justice system.
###