WASHINGTON, D.C. August 12, 2025 – U.S. Representative Elise Stefanik (R-NY) has vowed to lead a legislative charge to dismantle New York’s controversial cashless bail system, aligning with President Donald Trump’s call for a federal ban on the policy. The announcement, made via an X post on Monday at 18:40 UTC, comes as violent crime rates in New York City continue to climb, fueling a heated national debate over criminal justice reform.
Stefanik’s post highlighted a stark upward trend in violent crime, citing data that shows incidents rising from 36,000 in 2019 to nearly 48,000 in 2024—a 33% increase—based on city statistics included in her accompanying charts. She blamed the surge on what she described as “failed cashless bail” policies under Governor Kathy Hochul, accusing the state of prioritizing “radical, dangerous, and insane criminals and illegals first” over public safety.
“I will be leading legislation to end Kathy Hochul and NY’s failed bail reform once and for all to Save New York and Save America,” Stefanik declared, tagging the White House and Trump in her post. The proposal echoes Trump’s long-standing criticism of cashless bail systems, which he has linked to a broader crime crisis across the U.S. since his return to office.
The move taps into a contentious national conversation. New York’s 2019 bail reform, which eliminated cash bail for most misdemeanor and nonviolent felony charges, has faced scrutiny as crime rates ticked upward, particularly since 2020. Governor Hochul attempted to address the backlash in 2022 with proposed changes, but legislative leaders have resisted without clearer evidence linking reform to crime spikes. A 2023 ACLU report countered that factors like the COVID-19 pandemic and increased gun sales, rather than bail policy, better explain the homicide surge, a view supported by a Brennan Center for Justice study finding no significant crime rate impact from bail reform.
Despite the debate, Stefanik’s push finds resonance with some constituents. X user Reza Chowdhury noted a mere 5% drop in violent crime year-to-date in 2025, arguing that population decline makes New York City “far more dangerous” than a few years ago. Others, like Red White & Blue MAMBA, cheered the initiative, while critics, including Hoosier Daxdy, pointed to perceived inconsistencies in Trump’s past actions, such as his own releases on cashless bail in 2023.
The legislation’s prospects remain uncertain, with the No Money Bail Act of 2021—a federal proposal to ban cash bail—offering a precedent that stalled in Congress. As the nation watches, Stefanik’s pledge signals a renewed battle over law and order, framed as a cornerstone of the America First agenda.