DOJ CUTS HURT
Defend Victim Services, Protect Public Safety

$811 Million Cut.
Thousands of Victims Left Behind

$811 Million Cut.
Thousands of Victims Left Behind
The DOJ eliminated life-saving grants.
Here's what that means for victims of crime
Executive Summary
On April 22, 2025, at 5:00 PM EST, Elon Musk's DOGE cancelled $811 million in victim service grant awards administered by the U.S. Department of Justice—without prior notice to Congress, grantees and likely the Department itself.
An in-depth analysis of public grant data reveals the impact:
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Over 300 grants were affected across every U.S. state and territory
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Cuts spanned core victim service categories, including:
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Child abuse and juvenile violence prevention
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Domestic violence and sexual assault response
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Legal services and advocacy for crime victims
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Community safety and human trafficking intervention
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The data show that nationally scoped programs and state-based service providers alike are disrupted—impacting court-appointed child advocates, crisis centers, and law enforcement partnerships. Although some of the grant award funding had already been used, and other portions have been partially restored, over $500 million remains unreleased, leaving many programs without the resources needed to serve survivors, protect public safety, or maintain staffing. This is not just a budgeting error. It’s a failure of government transparency, fiscal responsibility, and a blow to the very infrastructure that supports law enforcement, victims, and safer communities.
Explore Grant Cuts:
This interactive graph allows you to view impacted programs by clicking on the bar chart

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