Trump Cuts to Victim Services Persist, Despite Federal Judge Order

St. Paul, MN –  The Trump Administration’s dangerous unilateral action to cut funding for victim support services such as domestic violence shelters and sexual assault advocates has continued to wreak havoc on victim support services in Minnesota. Recently, the Office on Violence Against Women halted all 2025 funding opportunities. While the Trump administration was ordered to unfreeze these funds, many organizations have reported that they are barred from seeking these critical funds. Some are now looking at cutting staff and services. Trump’s cuts to this and other federal programs funding victim services will have devastating consequences for victims' support and violence prevention efforts in Minnesota. These cuts make Minnesota less safe. State Representative Kelly Moller (DFL - Shoreview) of the House Public Safety Committee, released the following statement:

“During my time as a prosecutor, as a victims’ rights advocate, and as a member of the Public Safety Committee, I’ve seen first-hand the importance of centering victims and their needs when it comes to improving public safety outcomes. While Minnesota has taken recent action to address funding for these services, we aren’t close to where we need to be; losing federal funding will undo years of progress. Victim survivors from across the state are telling us they need these crucial services. We should listen. I am calling on my Republican colleagues, both at the state and federal levels, to join us in working to reverse course on these short-sighted cuts.”

Today, House and Senate legislators held a press conference with Minnesota Coalition Against Sexual Assault, Minnesota Indian Women’s Sexual Assault Coalition, Violence Free Minnesota, Minnesota Alliance on Crime, Mending the Sacred Hoop and Minnesota Children’s Alliance to highlight the real world consequences of the callous federal cuts. The service providers and advocates highlighted how the chaos and uncertainty surrounding federal funding is putting their programs in crisis. This means that critical support services are being delayed and entire swaths of the state may go without these services. While Rep. Moller has authored legislation that would serve as a stopgap funding measure, Minnesota does not have the budget capacity to make up for these devastating federal cuts. 

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