Cutting the police budget is "defunding the police", malicious or not and someone has to pick up the tab. I assume when Medicare / Medicaid is cut, it won't be malicious but they wont care to stop and think who will have to pick up the tab.

Many rural PA townships/counties defunded their police departments years ago and now rely on our state troopers who are paid from the state fund to patrol the areas. Half a billion dollars (2019 dollars, not adjusted for 2022 inflation) we as a state pay for the troopers to patrol these communities.

Source