Survivors of gender‑based violence—of all ages—deserve safety, justice, and healing. Those outcomes depend on a strong national commitment and federal funding reaching the victim service programs doing life‑saving work every day.
But right now, that commitment is falling short.
- Significant delays in the release of FY25 U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) grants, including over $200 million in federal funds appropriated by Congress through the bipartisan Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). OVW grants provide critical funding to rape crisis centers on college campuses, domestic violence shelters, community-based programs, and prosecution-based programs to support investigating and prosecuting sexual assault, domestic violence, and stalking, among other life-saving programs to prevent, intervene, and respond to gender-based violence across our nation. Victim service programs have now been waiting over 7 months for the release of these federal grants, as the scheduled award date was October 1, 2025.
- Delays in the release of new funding for FY26, including the failure to release the FY26 OVW Notice of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs) for grants to support domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking programs nationwide.
- Terminations of federal funding to support victim service programs, including over 365 DOJ grants totaling over $811 million terminated in April 2025. A majority of these grantees who appealed their termination have yet to receive any response from the DOJ over 11 months later.
Take Action! Sign by 5pm ET on 4/30/2026.
Please sign and share the petition calling for the immediate release of these critical funds.