Court Blocks Trump-Vance Administration’s Unlawful Restrictions on Violence Against Women Act Grants

Judge rules Trump was wrong to pull back grants for domestic violence prevention

ACLU of Rhode Island

A federal court in Rhode Island on August 8 issued a preliminary order blocking the Trump-Vance administration from enforcing many of the new unlawful restrictions on grants from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office on Violence Against Women. 

The ruling is a major relief for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault and the state coalitions — including the Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence — and service providers and community organizations that support them.

The court’s decision halts dangerous new requirements that made it impossible for many grantees to operate legally or effectively. These restrictions threatened to cut off life-saving resources to survivors, especially those from marginalized communities.

Seventeen state coalitions challenged the unlawful restrictions, arguing that the administration had overstepped its authority and violated statutory requirements established by the Violence Against Women Act.

After taking office in January, the administration issued a series of executive orders directing agency heads to impose conditions on federal funding, including to curtail diversity, equity, and inclusion programs that the administration deems “illegal” and “immoral” and efforts that recognize and respect people regardless of gender identity.

The coalitions issued the following statement:

“We welcome the court’s decision to defend survivors from the unlawful actions of this administration. This order is a critical step toward protecting survivors and ensuring that communities across the country can continue to provide the services Congress mandated. The administration’s attempt to politicize essential funding that supports survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault was not just unlawful, it was cruel. We will continue to be alongside survivors in fighting for justice and accountability.”

The group of state domestic violence and sexual assault coalitions named in the suit includes the Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence, California Partnership to End Domestic Violence, Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault, DC Coalition Against Domestic Violence, End Domestic Abuse Wisconsin: The Wisconsin Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Idaho Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence, Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Jane Doe Inc. (the Massachusetts Coalition Against Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence), Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence, Montana Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, North Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Oregon Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence, ValorUS, Violence Free Minnesota, Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance, and the Wisconsin Coalition Against Sexual Assault.

Plaintiffs are represented by Kristin Bateman and Robin Thurston of Democracy Forward, Jacobson Lawyers Group, Lynette Labinger for the ACLU of Rhode Island, the National Women’s Law Center, and Amy Romero for the Lawyers’ Committee for Rhode Island.

The case is Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence, et al. v. Bondi, et al. in the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island.

Read the decision, and other case documents, here.