BREAKING: The United States Justice Department has revoked hundreds of grants that were intended for crime victims and law enforcement

According to internal records and four individuals with knowledge of the situation, the U.S. Justice Department has terminated hundreds of ongoing grants that provided funding for a variety of programs, including mental health care services for police officers and support for victims of crime and sexual assault program.
Two individuals, who were granted anonymity to discuss details that have not been made public, reported that the Office of Justice Programs, the department’s primary grant-making arm, terminated at least 365 grants late on Tuesday.

According to the Justice Department’s website, that office collectively allocated $4.4 billion in funding during fiscal year 2023.
According to a partial list of terminated grants obtained by Reuters, the following programs are being targeted: grants that provided assistance to victims of crime, including those that were specifically designed for transgender victims, hotlines utilised by crime victims, human trafficking grants awarded to organisations that work with immigrants and refugees, programs to prevent juvenile delinquency and protect incarcerated youth, and funding to support state-run hate crime reporting.

Jean Bruggeman, leader of the non-profit Freedom Network USA, which provides assistance to human trafficking victims, stated that the precipitous cessation of funding without prior notification could result in vulnerable domestic abuse victims being left homeless and without access to housing.

“We are aware that the risk of mortality is highest when survivors leave domestic violence,” she stated.

“We have assured them that you can rely on us.” We will safeguard you. Please proceed. We will provide assistance and safeguard you. The government is now expressing gratitude for your willingness to come forward. You are entirely independent. We are indifferent to your life or death.
A request for comment regarding the cancellation’s criticisms and its effect on victims was not promptly responded to by the Justice Department.

CHANGE IN PRIORITIES

Grants from the Justice Department are typically awarded for a period of three years. It is not uncommon for a new administration to award various types of grants that align with its priorities. However, it is uncommon for the department to revoke funding for grants that were previously awarded and are currently supporting ongoing programs.

Deputy Assistant Attorney General Maureen Henneberg informed the Office of Justice Programs staff in an email on Tuesday that the department’s priorities are no longer supported by the cancelled grants.

She further stated that the new funding priorities will prioritise “certain law enforcement operations, combating violent crime, protecting American children, supporting American victims of trafficking and sexual assault, and promoting coordination of law enforcement efforts at all levels of government.”

A spokesperson for the Justice Department was unavailable for immediate comment.

Reuters was unable to immediately ascertain the total financial value of the cancelled grants, but records suggest that the reductions are at a minimum of millions of dollars.

The government collects fines and penalties from convicted felons to fund some of the grants that were terminated, as they are not funded by taxpayers.

According to the sources, the cancellations were not disclosed to numerous Justice Department personnel who are responsible for managing and awarding the grants until the grantees were informed on Tuesday.