The Department of Peacebuilding Act of 2025 would create a new federal department dedicated to reducing violence and advancing conflict resolution both within the United States and internationally. Headed by a Secretary appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate, the department would develop and implement violence prevention programs addressing issues such as gun violence (which killed over 48,000 Americans in 2022), intimate partner violence, school violence, gang activity, and hate crimes, while also working internationally on conflict prevention, deploying civilian peacekeepers, and promoting nonviolent dispute resolution. The bill cites research showing that peacebuilding programs are cost-effective and produce measurable results, and it frames addressing violence as a national security priority connected to systemic racism, economic inequality, and other underlying causes. The department would coordinate with other federal agencies and partner with nonprofits to expand proven violence prevention efforts, with at least 85 percent of appropriated funding directed toward domestic peacebuilding programs. The Secretary would serve on the National Security Council and have authority to hire and compensate staff according to federal civil service standards, though the bill does not specify the total funding amount.
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