Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner's executive order freezing spending means the anti-violence program CeaseFire is losing state funding.
Crain's Chicago Business reports CeaseFire is budgeted to receive $4.7 million from the state in fiscal 2015, which ends June 30.
In a Tuesday email obtained by Crain's, CeaseFire program director Jalon Arthur said Rauner's spending freeze means that "all program activities must cease immediately."
CeaseFire was launched in 1995, and has been found by researchers to reduce shootings. In addition to Chicago, CeaseFire operates in three suburbs and three cities outside of the Chicago area.
CeaseFire is just one of many state initiatives affected by Rauner's decision to freeze spending as Illinois faces a $1.6 billion budget shortfall for 2015, and a $6.2 billion gap for the following fiscal year.
