Trump Administration's New Restrictions on Grants for Domestic and Sexual Violence Coalitions Challenged in Lawsuit

Strategic Insights -

Seventeen statewide anti-domestic and sexual violence coalitions have filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration's new restrictions on grants administered by the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW). The lawsuit, led by the Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence, claims that the new conditions for funding are unconstitutional and threaten vital programs preventing domestic violence and supporting survivors. The lawsuit comes as the administration has proposed a 29% cut to the OVW program's funding in its fiscal year 2026 budget request.

Key Takeaways:

  • The lawsuit challenges the Trump administration's new restrictions on grants for domestic and sexual violence coalitions, which include prohibiting organizations from using federal funds for research projects, programs that discourage cooperation with law enforcement, and initiatives that promote gender ideology.
  • The restrictions also require organizations to certify compliance with the conditions, which could result in substantial penalties under the federal False Claims Act, including the potential withholding of funds, contract termination with the federal government, and criminal prosecution.
  • The plaintiffs claim that the new funding conditions violate the Administrative Procedure Act, which prohibits "arbitrary and capricious" federal agency actions, and the First Amendment by "seeking to silence disfavored speech."
  • The lawsuit alleges that the new conditions force organizations into an "impossible" choice: give up crucial support or comply with rules that contradict their values and legal responsibilities.
  • The plaintiffs highlight the importance of the grants, which provide critical support for victims of domestic and sexual violence, and the devastating impact of the new restrictions on communities.
  • The lawsuit was filed ahead of a June 25 deadline to apply for a fiscal 2025 training and technical assistance grant, and the plaintiffs argue that the new conditions will have a chilling effect on organizations' ability to provide critical services.
  • The coalition has received grant funding in various program categories every year since at least 2001 and has an annual budget of roughly $5.3 million, with approximately $1 million coming from OVW grants.

Statistics:

  • $1 million: The amount of grants awarded to Rhode Island annually.
  • $5.3 million: The annual budget of the Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence.
  • $3.4 million: The amount of funds passed through to member agencies by the coalition.
  • 79%: The percentage of the coalition's revenue accounted for by federal grants and contracts.
  • $113,574: The anticipated amount of the fiscal 2025 training and technical assistance grant.
  • $550,000: The amount received by Rhode Island from OVW in 2022 for a safe visitation and exchange program for domestic violence survivors and their children.
  • $350,000: The amount received by the coalition for educating young men on the crimes of domestic and dating violence.

Sources:

  • (https://www.justice.gov/ovw/media/1400746/dl?inline)
  • (https://rhodeislandcurrent.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/complaint_-_ricadv_v._bondi.pdf)
  • (https://penncapital-star.com/donate/?oa_referrer=midstorybox)
  • (https://penncapital-star.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/complaint_-_ricadv_v._bondi.pdf)
  • (https://www.riaclu.org/sites/default/files/field_documents/lucy_rios_declaration.pdf)
  • (https://rhodeislandcurrent.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/RI-Coalition-Against-Domestic-Violence-2023-Annual-Report-Web.pdf)