Particle.news
Download on the App Store
4 ARTICLES
·
3d ago

Lawmakers Demand DOJ Action on Suspended Violence Against Women Act Grants

Over 100 bipartisan House members urge Attorney General Bondi to clarify and restore critical funding for survivor support programs after abrupt withdrawal.

Josh Gottheimer; Young Kim.
Rep. Young Kim, R-Anaheim Hills, led a bipartisan letter sent to Attorney General Pam Bondi on Thursday, April 24, urging the Justice Department to restore critical funding for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence and stalking. In this photo, Kim is seen participating in a wildfire roundtable with first responders and community leaders at the Library of the Canyons in Silverado, CA, on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Image
Image

Overview

  • The Justice Department’s Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) removed all fiscal year 2025 grant notices in February, halting funding opportunities for survivor assistance programs.
  • A bipartisan group of over 100 lawmakers, led by Reps. Young Kim (R-Calif.) and Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.), sent a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi expressing deep concern about the funding disruption.
  • Lawmakers warn that the withdrawal threatens essential services for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking, jeopardizing program stability.
  • The letter calls on the DOJ to provide immediate clarity on the status of the grants and to take swift action to fully restore funding without further delays.
  • The OVW, established under the 1994 Violence Against Women Act and reauthorized in 2022, oversees grants critical to survivor aid, with delays potentially leading to devastating impacts on safety and recovery.