Statement by Phillip Atiba Solomon, CEO of the Center for Policing Equity (CPE):
“The Administration’s new executive order claims to strengthen law enforcement, but its true effect is undermining public trust, overriding local decision-making, and disrupting the careful balance between safety and accountability on which our democracy depends.
Released just before the nation marks five years since the lynching of George Floyd and the historic protests it ignited, this order threatens to reverse hard-won progress by disregarding demands for fair, accountable policing and instead pushing to expand law enforcement with minimal oversight.
The executive order also lays the groundwork for consolidating the administration’s influence over local police, undermining democratic governance, and reshaping local law enforcement around its political agenda.
True public safety is not achieved through unchecked force. It is built by addressing root causes of community crises, investing in vulnerable populations, and implementing evidence-driven approaches. Real safety is built on trust, accountability, and dignity. The United States deserves a system that protects rights, prioritizes transparency, and delivers real security—not one driven by the politics of fear. “