Biden seeking $37B for fighting crime, hiring more police

WASHINGTON (AP) – President Joe Biden is proposing to spend roughly $37 billion for fighting and preventing crime.

The Democratic president’s new proposal includes $13 billion to help communities hire and train 100,000 police officers over five years.

Biden will outline his anti-crime program on Thursday during a visit to Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Biden will request the money from Congress as part of his latest budget proposal.

Senior administration officials previewed the plan on the condition of anonymity ahead of the formal announcement.

Republicans are trying to gain leverage in November’s midterm elections by portraying Democrats as unwilling to confront crime problems.