Survivors and Advocates Left Reeling
Last week, the U.S. Department of Justice sent shockwaves through the survivor community when it canceled hundreds of grants meant to fund vital crime victim services, sexual assault crisis hotlines, and advocacy programs across the country.
Now, after fierce public outcry, the DOJ has reversed its decision and announced that some of the canceled grants will be restored.
But for survivors — and for the organizations that serve them — the damage has already been done.
This is not a victory lap.
It is a gut punch.
This is another reminder that, time and time again, survivors are treated as an afterthought when they have courage to come forward, the federal government is slamming the door shut on the very services that help them survive.
The Whiplash Survivors Are Feeling
Imagine being a survivor finally finding the courage to reach out for help — only to hear that the crisis line you dialed is shutting down.
Or waiting months for counseling after sexual assault, only to be told your service provider lost its funding overnight.
And trying to rebuild your life, and learning that the very government sworn to protect you has turned its back.
That’s the trauma survivors were forced to relive last week.
The DOJ’s reversal doesn’t erase the terror, anxiety, and retraumatization caused by its reckless decision-making. It doesn’t undo the staff layoffs, the hotline shutdowns, or the lost sense of safety.
This whiplash retraumatizes survivors who already live with enough uncertainty.
When survivors are treated like political collateral — when their access to life-saving services can be stripped away in a matter of hours — they are once again told:
You don’t matter. Your healing doesn’t matter. Your survival doesn’t matter.
And that is unacceptable.
How We Got Here: A Broken Process
The original grant cancellations were announced on Tuesday— many specifically targeted to sexual assault services, domestic violence programs, and child advocacy centers — were wiped out with almost no warning.
When news broke, a tidal wave of survivor advocates, service providers, attorneys, and nonprofit leaders pushed back hard. Only after immense pressure did the DOJ announce it would “reconsider” its decision and restore some of the funding on Thursday.
Let’s be clear:
The restoration of these grants is not a gift.
It’s a course correction for a devastating mistake.
But trust has been broken.
And once again, survivors are the ones forced to live with the fallout.
Why These Grants Are So Critical
Unlike general law enforcement grants, many of the now-canceled funds were targeted specifically to programs that help survivors:
- 24/7 hotlines for sexual assault and domestic violence
- Hospital accompaniment during rape exams
- Emergency housing for survivors fleeing abusers
- Legal advocacy for protective orders and civil lawsuits
- Trauma-informed mental health support
While some of these grants were restored this week for hotlines and shelters, many services are still left I the wind. Survivors of child sexual abuse, especially those harmed by institutions like schools, churches, and youth organizations, often rely on these first contacts with advocates to begin the path toward healing and justice.
When that first call for help goes unanswered, the damage is immeasurable.
The Real Cost of Whip Lash From DOJ Cuts
The Department of Justice may try to frame this as a bureaucratic misstep or just simply remain silent.
Survivors will experience it as betrayal. Advocates and agencies will walk on egg shells fearing when the next grant gets pulled.
Being trauma-informed means creating spaces where survivors feel seen, heard, safe, and supported with predictability after experiencing chaos. When leaders use funding as a political football, they strip survivors of these essential tools for healing.
At Andreozzi + Foote, we know how critical immediate access to services is for survivors — whether they need medical attention, counseling, housing, or help filing a civil lawsuit to hold their abusers accountable.
When you pull funding from crisis services, you don’t just “tighten a budget.”
It silences survivors.
Retraumatizes survivors.
And make healing even harder.
The real cost will be measured in lives put at risk and healing delayed.
What Survivors and Advocates Can Do About DOJ Cuts
Survivors and those who support them must raise their voices louder than ever.
✅ Demand accountability. Contact your elected officials and demand that the DOJ immediately restore ALL funding for victim services.
✅ Support local organizations. Many non-profits are scrambling to stay afloat. Donations, volunteer hours, and public pressure make a difference.
✅ Educate your community. Most people have no idea these cuts are happening. Spread the word — because survivors can’t afford our silence.
✅ Seek trauma-informed legal support. If you are a survivor seeking justice through the civil courts, know that legal help remains available.
At Andreozzi + Foote, our trauma-informed attorneys are ready to stand with you — to hold abusers and negligent institutions accountable, even when the system tries to fail you again.
We Must Refuse to Be Silent
Every hotline that closes is a survivor unheard.
Advocates laid off means a survivor unsupported.
Shelters shuttered leave survivors unsafe.
We refuse to accept a world where survivors are used in this political tug of war.
Justice is not a privilege.
Healing is not optional.
And survivors deserve better — not budget cuts.
Contact Andreozzi + Foote today for a free, confidential consultation.
📞 1-866-753-5458
🌐 www.victimscivilattorneys.com
When systems fail survivors, we fight to make sure they still have a voice, a path to justice, and the support they deserve.
