Dupage Policy Journal

Steve Cortes, founder of the League of American Workers, said that President Trump's opposition to cashless bail and reductions in federal support for states with lenient bail and crime policies reflect a return to safety and responsibility.

"Finally, a President who understands that law and order isn't optional, it's foundational," said Cortes. "If blue-state politicians want to play social justice roulette with criminals by unleashing them on innocent families, they shouldn't expect the hardworking taxpayers of America to subsidize their recklessness. Cashless bail is a conveyor belt for chaos, and Trump is right to slam the brakes. No more federal welfare for failed ideas. Let's go straight back to safety, sanity, and justice."

On August 25, 2025, President Trump signed a series of executive orders reinforcing his law-and-order agenda, according to the White House. One order threatens to withhold federal funding from jurisdictions that use cashless bail, arguing the policy endangers public safety. This order puts the spotlight on places like Illinois, New York, New Jersey, and Washington, D.C., potentially compelling states to reconsider their pretrial release systems if they hope to retain federal support.

"As President, I will require commonsense policies that protect Americans’ safety and well-being by incarcerating individuals who are known threats," Trump said in the order. "It is therefore the policy of my Administration that Federal policies and resources should not be used to support jurisdictions with cashless bail policies, to the maximum extent permitted by law."

In 2023, Illinois enacted the SAFE‑T Act, becoming the first state to fully eliminate cash bail. The legislation mandates that pretrial release decisions be determined by judges based on a defendant’s risk level—not their ability to pay—rather than requiring upfront financial bonds. Supporters say this addresses racial and economic inequities; critics argue it undermines public safety and accountability.

According to the Illinois Policy Institute, the Illinois SAFE-T Act reforms policing by banning chokeholds, requiring all law enforcement agencies to adopt body cameras by 2025, expanding the attorney general’s authority to investigate police misconduct, allowing anonymous complaints, and mandating retention of officer disciplinary records. Additional provisions change correctional policies, including reforming the felony-murder rule, reducing certain mandatory minimums, and ending "prison gerrymandering" by counting incarcerated people at their last known residence for redistricting.

Cortes is Founder and President of League of American Workers and senior political advisor to CatholicVote. He is a former senior advisor to President Trump and JD Vance and a commentator for Fox News and CNN. Cortes regularly releases documentaries and columns at cortesinvestigates.com.