Government Shutdown Cuts Funding for Violence Against Women Act

When the government shut down on December 22, 2018, a landmark act that protected women in America fell with it.

The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), first passed by Congress in 1994, provides money for the purpose of protecting women against violent crimes. More specifically, the law authorized recognition and support for domestic violence shelters, federal prosecution for domestic violence and sexual assault crimes, and protections for battered immigrants.

“[The Violence Against Women Act] really formalized a stream of funding and support for services of victims. It created a more formalized way for agencies to obtain money and it really changed our support across the criminal justice system,” said Bethany Backes, director of research for the Institute on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault at the University of Texas at Austin to the Washington Post.

The House and Senate passed budget agreements that would cover the cost of VAWA programs in the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) until Feb. 8. However, much of the funding is administered by the Justice Department. This means that while grants provided before the shutdown will not be impacted, most future payments and grants will be postponed until the government reopens and the law is reauthorized.

“Our major concern right now is that the program that has been authorized is not being funded because of Trump and the shutdown… the money flow may be stopped, which will put women’s lives in danger,” said Toni Van Pelt, president of the National Organization for Women to NBC News.

The effects are already being felt around the country. According to 4WWL, a New Orleans local news source, according to Mary Claire Landry, “’With this government shutdown, the President is putting all services to domestic violence and sexual assault victims at risk of closing across the country.’” Furthermore, in West Virginia, some sheriffs are applying for grants despite the shutdown.

Democratic politicians have also expressed disdain for the expiration of VAWA, blaming president Trump for the government shutdown over the border wall. Sen Elizabeth Warren tweeted, “The Violence Against Women Act ― which supports critical programs to help victims of sexual assault, domestic abuse, and stalking ― expired at midnight. We could have funded it, but @realDonaldTrump would rather shut down the government for a wall that doesn’t make us any safer,” and Sen. Kamala Harris tweeted, “Don’t let this go unnoticed: the Violence Against Women Act, which helps survivors of domestic abuse and sexual assault, expired with the government shutdown.”

In 2018, VAWA was largely funded through short-term extensions. The bill was originally set to expire Sept. 30, was extended until Dec. 7, then extended until the government shutdown on Dec 21. In September, the House Democratic Leader at the time, Nancy Pelosi, criticized Republicans for only allowing for short-term extensions, and 46 Republicans signed a letter addressed to Rep. Paul Ryan and Rep. Kevin McCarthy, urging them to reauthorize VAWA.

Previously,VAWA expired in 2011 before it was reauthorized in 2013 after a long legislative battle over provisions that offered protections for Native American and LGBT women.
Article by MoCo Student staff writer Shevani Tewari of Richard Montgomery High School