The Trump administration is making the country less safe for domestic violence victims

May 30, 2025

The Trump administration's recent actions have severely undermined the federal infrastructure supporting domestic violence and intimate partner violence services. In just over four months, the administration has implemented funding freezes, staffing cuts, and information purges that threaten decades of progress in addressing this public health crisis. New grant requirements prioritize combating crimes linked to illegal immigration while restricting activities that frame domestic violence as social justice issues rather than criminal offenses.

Who is affected

Survivors of domestic violence and intimate partner violence
LGBTQ+ survivors who have lost dedicated resources
Immigrant survivors who may face increased scrutiny about immigration status
Teenagers who benefited from prevention programs like Dating Matters
Domestic violence service organizations and shelters dependent on federal funding
State domestic violence coalitions and nonprofits providing direct services
The National Domestic Violence Hotline and similar crisis services
Culturally specific service providers tailored to Asian, Black, Native American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, or Latinx survivors

What action is being taken

Organizations like FORGE and the American Bar Association are challenging the constitutionality of funding cuts through lawsuits
Democratic Representatives Gwen Moore, Debbie Dingell, and Republican Representative Brian Fitzpatrick are joining with advocacy groups for a day of action on Capitol Hill
Some organizations, like Jane Doe Inc., are maintaining their websites and resources despite risks to their federal funding
Former CDC employees, such as Sarah DeGue, are establishing consulting firms and uploading deleted resources to their own websites
Nonprofits are seeking legal advice about compliance with new executive orders
Representatives Moore and Dingell are leading efforts to push back on funding delays and staffing cuts

Why it matters

Federal grant programs are described as "the lifeblood of domestic violence services programs," with many organizations relying on this funding for 50-90% of their operating budgets. The Violence Against Women Act and Family Violence Prevention and Services Act have been essential to protecting victims and contributing to the decline in violent crime. Without these resources, advocates warn that many more people will suffer and die from domestic violence. Prevention programs like DELTA and Dating Matters have proven effective at reducing violence, substance use, and delinquency among youth, with one study showing positive impacts through high school. These changes are occurring during what is described as a mental health crisis for American teens, making it "the absolute worst possible time" to eliminate effective programs teaching healthy relationship skills.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article beyond the planned day of action on Capitol Hill with Representatives Moore, Dingell, and Fitzpatrick joining domestic violence advocacy groups to discuss the importance of federal funding.

Read full article from source: The 19th