Organizations supporting survivors of sexual assault are facing a severe funding crisis due to cuts from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), leaving many Colorado-based programs in jeopardy. “There’s a huge squeeze right now,” said Brie Franklin, Executive Director of the Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault (CCASA). “It’s particularly concerning here in Colorado because we don’t have state funds for victim services, and so the programs here are heavily reliant on those federal funds.”
Federal funding for these services typically comes from grants through the DOJ, including those authorized by the Violence Against Women Act, but Franklin noted that multiple grant notices were pulled in early February and have yet to be reposted, creating uncertainty and stress across the field. Recent DOJ cuts have already led to terminated programs like UCHealth’s rural SANE nurse training initiative, which Franklin emphasized was essential given the existing shortage of trained providers: “Now the grant that they had to train people has been cut.” Meanwhile, organizations like The Blue Bench are anxiously waiting to see whether they’ll be impacted, especially after a 45% cut to the Victims of Crime Act fund last year forced them to lay off a third of their staff.
“Victims didn’t ask for what happened to them,” Franklin added. “We believe strongly that there should be supports in place for them.” CCASA and hundreds of advocates across the country are now calling on DOJ leadership to restore funding and protect access to critical services.