Vermont Attorney General Joins Coalition to Challenge Trump Administration's VOCA Grant Conditions

Strategic Insights -

Attorney General Charity Clark has joined a coalition of 21 attorneys general in a lawsuit against the Trump Administration's efforts to impose immigration enforcement requirements on VOCA grants. These grants, totaling over $1 billion dollars annually, are used to support public safety and provide critical resources to victims of crime. The lawsuit argues that the new conditions are arbitrary, exceed the U.S. DOJ's legal authority, and violate the Spending Clause. The coalition is seeking to protect this funding for states, including Vermont, which received $3,146,916 in VOCA grants in fiscal year 2025.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Trump Administration's efforts to impose immigration enforcement requirements on VOCA grants are being challenged by 21 attorneys general, including Vermont's Attorney General Charity Clark.
  • VOCA grants, totaling over $1 billion dollars annually, are used to support public safety and provide critical resources to victims of crime, including victims of domestic violence.
  • The lawsuit argues that the new conditions are arbitrary, exceed the U.S. DOJ's legal authority, and violate the Spending Clause.
  • The coalition is requesting that the Court permanently enjoin the Trump Administration from implementing or enforcing these illegal conditions.
  • Vermont allocated a total of $3,146,916 in VOCA grants in fiscal year 2025.
  • The VOCA grants are used to support nearly 9 million crime victims per year and to provide compensation for over 200,000 victims' claims per year.
  • The lawsuit is the twenty-seventh case overall that Attorney General Clark has brought against the Trump Administration since President Trump took office in January.

Statistics:

  • $1 billion: The total annual funding for VOCA grants nationwide.
  • $3,146,916: The amount of VOCA grants allocated to Vermont in fiscal year 2025.
  • 9 million: The number of crime victims supported by VOCA grants per year nationwide.
  • 200,000: The number of victims' claims compensated by VOCA grants per year nationwide.
  • 27: The number of cases brought against the Trump Administration by Attorney General Clark since President Trump took office in January.

Sources:

  • The Vermont Attorney General's Office
  • The complaint filed in the lawsuit, available at ago.vermont.gov/ago-actions
  • The Victims of Crime Act of 1984
  • The U.S. Department of Justice's Victims of Crime Fund.