Federal Challenges to DOJ Program Escalate Amid Bipartisan Crackdown on Civil Asset Forfeiture
After years of quiet enforcement, a coalition of 12 state attorneys general is now formally challenging the Department of Justice’s asset forfeiture program, claiming it unconstitutionally seizes private property without due process. The dispute, centered on the Equitable Sharing Program, has sparked a rare bipartisan legal fight—pitting conservative states against Trump-era DOJ policies while progressives argue civil liberties are being violated. Internal memos show DOJ leaders privately fear a Supreme Court showdown that could dismantle federal forfeiture authority entirely. With bipartisan support for reform now exceeding 60% in Congress, this phase of federal challenges to DOJ program could reshape law enforcement funding models within the next 60 days.