More than 5,000 human trafficking survivors have lost or are at risk of losing lifesaving victim services across the United States.
The US Department of Justice has withheld $83,000,000 in Office for Victims of Crime grant funding since October 1, 2025.
Without these funds in place, over 100 victim services providers have had to drastically reduce services available or close their doors. Survivors in multiple states have lost the emergency housing, case management, counseling, and legal assistance they depend on to escape and rebuild their lives after trafficking.
A looming crisis for trafficking survivors
OVC grants normally fund at least 300 human trafficking victim service providers at a time. With over 200 grants expired or expiring, unless the DOJ releases the funds, only 95 OVC-funded human trafficking victim service providers could be left with active grants.
That is nowhere near enough. OVC-funded organizations served more than 17,000 trafficking survivors in FY24 alone. The 95 providers left standing simply could not maintain that level of support while absorbing people losing services elsewhere.
Unless the DOJ acts, thousands more survivors could lose access to the services they depend on.
The DOJ still hasn’t delivered
When the DOJ first failed to release the funds on schedule, thousands of Freedom United supporters joined victim service providers and advocates in demanding action. After three months of pressure, the DOJ finally opened the funding opportunities—and organizations across the country applied for the grants.1
That should have been the beginning of getting money to frontline services. But, months later, the DOJ still hasn’t awarded the grants which were promised by July 1, 2026. On August 13, 2026 the agency said it was in the “final stages” of determining awards.2 More than a month later, organizations are still waiting. The money we fought to get moving is stuck again.
This time, there’s a new obstacle. The funds are stuck in a political review process with applications being scrutinized for alignment with White House priorities. Additionally, the DOJ has eliminated independent outside peer review.3 Political officials now have greater control over both the process and who ultimately receives funding—raising serious concerns not just over the lengthy delays but that these critical funds could be awarded based on political priorities rather than proven expertise, effectiveness and the needs of trafficking survivors.
Why services are important
The survivors served by these programs are adults, youth, US citizens and non-citizens, all genders, and all ages. They may be survivors of sex or labor trafficking, or both. Many of these survivors have complex needs that require experienced, coordinated care. The services at risk aren’t just helpful—they’re life-saving. In many regions, the DOJ-funded program is the only lifeline available.
The cost of the funding gap
Even a short lapse in access to services can be a life-or-death issue for survivors, making them more vulnerable to re-exploitation. Over 100 service providers lost their main funding source for human trafficking survivors and have had to cut back or cease services altogether. Funding cuts across federal grants have meant that referral partners also reduced available services and can not help fill in service gaps.
The Department of Justice has $83 million ready to go. They have the power to restore services to thousands of survivors and prevent further delays. We need them to act now.
We demand they:
- Immediately award the FY25 grants to qualified, experienced organizations with a proven track record of effective, survivor-centered anti-trafficking services
- Preventing further delays in the next funding cycle by making FY26 award decisions by the posted start date of January 1, 2027.
Survivors can’t wait.
👉 Raise your voice. Take action now.