05/28/2026
VRLC Executive Director Stacy Malone recently discussed the devastating impact that continually delayed federal funding is having on domestic and sexual violence survivor services across the country with The 19th.
The publication contacted more than 250 organizations and municipalities that previously received funding from the Office on Violence Against Women. The 48 that responded described layoffs, reduced survivor services, and voluntary pay cuts just to keep critical programs running. Most organizations declined to speak publicly out of fear of retaliation from the current administration.
If federal funding runs out by September 30, Stacy explained, VRLC may no longer be able to fully support attorneys representing K-12 students who have experienced sexual violence.
“I know it’s hard for some people to imagine that a 12-year-old needs their own lawyer, but if they’ve been sexually assaulted by a classmate, and they want to stay safely in school, they need someone to advocate for them,” she said.
Survivors deserve consistent, fully funded support, and the organizations serving them require access to these stalled federal resources to continue their lifesaving work.
Read the full story from The 19th here: https://19thnews.org/2026/05/domestic-violence-federal-funding-impact/
