Survivor Safety at Stake in President’s Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Proposal
April 6, 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: NNEDV Communications Team (Communications@NNEDV.org)
Washington, DC – The National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV) is deeply concerned by President Trump’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2027. Released last week, the recommended topline funding levels include catastrophic cuts to federal programs that millions of Americans rely on – including programs that save the lives of domestic violence victims and their children.
Most concerning among these proposals are significant reductions in funding for grant programs under the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW), including a $14 million cut to transitional housing and a $15 million cut to legal assistance grants. Both housing and legal assistance are essential for survivors and their children, enabling them to escape violence and start rebuilding their lives.
Additionally, the administration once again is proposing to consolidate OVW with other U.S. Department of Justice entities into a single grantmaking component, despite explicit statutory language prohibiting such a move, which Congress reaffirmed in the final, bipartisan fiscal year 2026 funding bills.
Consolidation would undermine OVW’s unique focus and effectiveness as the only federal agency that directly represents the needs of victims, ensuring a coordinated federal response to domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking.
These proposed cuts come at a time when families and communities across our country are struggling. NNEDV’s recently released 20th Annual Domestic Violence Counts Report found that, on just one day in September 2025, local domestic violence programs served more than 84,000 survivors and their children – and were unable to meet more than 13,000 requests for help due to a lack of resources, funding, and/or staffing.
“The data is clear: domestic violence survivors, advocates, and programs need more funding, more support, and more investment in proven solutions – not less,” said Tonia Moultry-Pace, NNEDV Interim President & CEO. “When our communities have the resources that they need to address violence and help victims, everyone is safer. These proposed cuts are unacceptable, and they are dangerous.”
Compounding these proposed cuts is the near depletion of the Crime Victims Fund, which is non-taxpayer money that funds lifesaving services to over six million crime victims annually through almost 6,500 direct service organizations, such as domestic violence shelters, rape crisis centers, and child abuse treatment programs.
Federal funding is the backbone of our nation’s response to violence and our commitment to survivors’ safety, stability, and recovery. These dollars save millions of lives each year by funding essential services that survivors depend on. Any reduction in federal funding jeopardizes vital services and risks the lives of victims and their children.
NNEDV urges Congress to reject the cuts proposed in the President’s budget. While this budget is just the first step in a lengthy approval process that will unfold in Congress, we urge lawmakers to stand with survivors and the programs they depend on.
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The National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV) represents the 56 state and U.S. territorial coalitions against domestic violence. NNEDV is a social change organization working to create a social, political, and economic environment in which domestic violence no longer exists. NNEDV works to make domestic violence a national priority, change the way society responds to domestic violence, and strengthen domestic violence advocacy at every level.