LANSING, Mich. (Aug. 27, 2025) — Nearly two months past the statutory July 1 deadline, House Republicans rushed through an egregious 808-page, $78.5 billion budget just a mere 30 minutes after the document became available to the public. With fewer than 40 days until the new fiscal year, their proposal guts funding for schools, first responders, working families, and more. Among the alarming cuts is a $128 million decrease in funding for the Michigan State Police, which would eliminate 400 staff positions and force reductions in training programs, critical community safety initiatives, and other resources troopers rely on to keep Michiganders safe.
In response to this reckless and irresponsible budget proposal, Sen. Kevin Hertel (D-St. Clair Shores), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Military, Veterans, and State Police, released the following statement:
“We constantly hear Matt Hall and House Republicans beating their chests about rooting out so-called ‘waste, fraud, and abuse.’ Yet when they finally do their jobs and pass a budget late, they deliberately choose to slash millions of dollars and hundreds of employees from the Michigan State Police… Are they saying our troopers — the men and women who risk their lives to keep our communities safe — are nothing more than ‘waste, fraud, and abuse?’
“Funding our police should never be a partisan issue. But House Republicans’ budget makes catastrophic cuts and undermines public safety. I will not play games with the safety of Michigan communities, and I will never balance the budget on the backs of our troopers.”
Back in May, Sen. Hertel and Senate Democrats passed a fiscally responsible budget that fully funds the Michigan State Police, equipping them with the tools and resources needed to recruit and retain skilled law enforcement officers. To learn more about Senate Democrats’ budget proposal, visit SenateDems.com/budget.