Civil Rights, Equity, and Advocacy Programs
Last Updated: April 8, 2025
Community-Based Violence Intervention Initiative grants reduced or eliminated.
Anti-hate crime and civil legal aid grants scaled back.
LGBTQ+ and immigrant-specific VAWA grants defunded.
Racial equity and restorative justice funding terminated.
Grants being cut or changed
Federal support for civil rights and equity-focused programs has been drastically reduced in 2025. The Department of Justice (DOJ) and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) have ended funding for many grants tied to racial equity, community safety, and advocacy initiatives. Programs like the Community-Based Violence Intervention and Prevention Initiative, anti-hate crime community support grants, and civil legal aid funds have been reduced or eliminated. Grants that focused on racial health disparities, LGBTQ+ services, and gender-based violence prevention have also been scaled back significantly.
Eliminations or restructuring
The White House Office of Equity, launched under the Biden administration, has been dissolved. The DOJ’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP) has consolidated or eliminated multiple equity-related grant opportunities. This includes redirecting funds previously earmarked for restorative justice, indigenous justice systems, and civil legal support for low-income individuals. At HHS, a restructuring has deprioritized culturally specific service programs, rolling many into general block grants to states with less accountability.
On hold or court challenges
Civil rights coalitions and legal aid organizations have filed lawsuits arguing the cuts violate nondiscrimination statutes and Congressional intent. Some cases are focused on the defunding of gender-based violence programs under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), particularly services for LGBTQ+ and immigrant survivors. As of April 2025, courts have allowed the suits to proceed, though no injunctions have yet been issued.
Timeline
The majority of equity-related cuts were announced between January and March 2025. Some programs were halted mid-cycle, while others were not renewed for FY2026. Block grant restructuring is expected to be finalized by October 2025, leading to further uncertainty for nonprofits planning multi-year services.
State-level impact
Advocacy and civil rights groups in Kentucky, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania report lost staff and suspended outreach activities. In West Virginia and Tennessee, culturally specific domestic violence programs are preparing to close locations due to defunded VAWA grants. South Carolina and Ohio have warned that court navigation and legal aid for underserved communities will decline, particularly in rural and low-income urban areas. Across the region, civil rights-focused nonprofits face steep operating challenges.
Sources
U.S. Department of Justice. (2025, March 11). OJP program changes and grant realignments. https://www.ojp.gov/news/2025-grant-program-changes
NPR. (2025, March 20). Federal equity and violence prevention grants face rollback. https://www.npr.org/2025/03/20/equity-violence-prevention-funding-cuts
National Legal Aid & Defender Association. (2025, March 25). Statement on DOJ legal aid cuts. https://www.nlada.org/news/legal-aid-cuts-2025
Associated Press. (2025, April 3). Civil rights groups sue over defunding of advocacy programs. https://apnews.com/article/civil-rights-grant-lawsuits-2025
