FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 21, 2025

CONTACT: press@democracyforward.org

Rhode Island – A nationwide coalition of domestic violence, sexual assault, housing, youth, and homelessness organizations filed a lawsuit challenging the Trump-Vance administration’s sweeping and unlawful conditions placed on federal grant funding from the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Housing and Urban Development (HUD). These new funding restrictions target diversity, equity, inclusion, and transgender rights, putting life-saving services for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, LGBTQI+ youth, and unhoused communities at risk.

The coalition, which includes state coalitions and service providers from across the country, is asking the court to block the administration from enforcing requirements that push grantees to restrict or deny diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, censor support for transgender individuals, and certify compliance with broad anti-equity mandates, or else face severe penalties, including liability under the False Claims Act. In some programs, the administration has also extended anti-abortion restrictions.

Plaintiffs in the case include Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence, California Partnership To End Domestic Violence, Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault, District Of Columbia 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, Wisconsin Coalition Against Sexual Assault,  House of Hope Community Development Corporation, Community Care Alliance, Foster Forward, Rhode Island Coalition to End Homelessness, and Haus of Codec. 

The plaintiffs are represented by Democracy Forward; Jacobson Lawyers Group; National Women’s Law Center; Amy Romero and Mary Dunn for the Lawyers’ Committee for Rhode Island; and Lynette Labinger for the ACLU Foundation of Rhode Island.

“The demand for loyalty oaths are destructive and discriminatory policies. We will not be complicit in our government’s ongoing terror inflicted on survivors. Let’s be clear, VALOR’s loyalty lies with survivors and communities working to end sexual violence,” said Sandra Henriquez, CEO of ValorUS.

“When survivors and their children flee abusive relationships, they can find safe housing and services because of HUD and HHS funding. New grant conditions tell LGBTQ+ survivors that they can only access these services if they erase who they are. These funds should open the way to safety, healing and services for every one of the millions of Californians looking for help during the most dangerous and traumatic times of their lives”, said Krista Colón, Executive Director of the California Partnership to End Domestic Violence. “Instead, advocates are being ordered to limit their services and ignore the needs of survivors, running the risk of harsh penalties if they don’t comply. This puts our public safety at risk, removing communities’ tools to prevent multiple forms of violence and oppression at once. Survivors do not exist in a vacuum – they are also impacted by racism, targeted for their gender identities, and threatened by attacks on immigration. The less preventionists are able to focus on these root issues, the more domestic violence is allowed to continue in our society. At the Partnership, we are committed to ensuring that healing and prevention services reach all survivors and communities, especially those who shoulder daily discrimination.”

“This administration continues to target people in vulnerable communities; and we continue to meet them in court. Organizations serving survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, LGBTQ+ youth, and people experiencing homelessness should not be forced to abandon their work, erase the identities of those they serve, or compromise their values just to keep their doors open,” said Skye Perryman, President and CEO of Democracy Forward. “This unlawful and harmful policy puts extreme schemes ahead of people’s dignity and safety by restricting essential federal support. At Democracy Forward, we are proud to be alongside this nationwide coalition and our partners to hold the administration accountable for undermining people’s safety.”

Created and authorized by Congress, the affected programs – such as programs under the Violence Against Women Act, the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act, and the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act – have long provided critical support to organizations that serve survivors, families, youth, and unhoused individuals. Through politically motivated funding conditions, the administration is undermining Congress’s clear intent, threatening the effectiveness of these programs, and jeopardizing services that vulnerable communities across the country depend on.

The case is Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence v. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. et al.

To read the complaint, please select here.
For the national press release, please select here.

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ValorUS® (VALOR) is a California-based, national anti-sexual violence organization and California’s sexual assault coalition, representing the 84 rape crisis center programs across the state. Since our founding in 1980, we have continued to build dynamic relationships across a diverse range of communities, institutions and systems, and mobilize our network of survivors and advocates to influence change. Through advancing equity, leadership, prevention, and advocacy, we are fearlessly pursuing a world free from violence where the dignity of every person is valued and respected. For more information, visit valor.us. 

The California Partnership to End Domestic Violence (the Partnership) works to prevent and end domestic violence in California by mobilizing over 1,000 survivors, advocates, organizations, and allies. Via public policy, prevention, communications, and community-based strategic engagement, we strive to build healthy relationships at all levels by eliminating the injustices which perpetuate cycles of violence, elevating and expanding opportunities for innovative solutions that center survivors, and building and funding support for local programs using a healing lens. For more information, visit cpedv.org.

Democracy Forward Foundation is a national legal organization that advances democracy and social progress through litigation, policy, public education, and regulatory engagement. For more information, please visit www.democracyforward.org.