WASHINGTON — A federal judge has struck down sweeping, unlawful restrictions the Trump-Vance administration imposed on federal grants in a ruling that will restore critical funding for survivors of domestic and sexual violence, LGBTQI+ youth, and people experiencing homelessness.

The ruling issued late Friday in Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence v. Kennedy, a lawsuit filed July 21, 2025, blocks grant restrictions imposed by the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that had threatened essential services nationwide. The Trump-Vance administration had required organizations receiving federal funds to certify they wouldn’t engage in activities or programs centered on “gender ideology” or “illegal DEI” activities or to “fund, facilitate, or promote” abortion.

Those restrictions put service providers in an impossible position, forcing them to choose between complying with the administration’s unlawful demands and losing funding for programs that survivors, young people, and people experiencing homelessness rely on every day.

“The Trump-Vance administration made a fundamental mistake by putting political ideology ahead of the safety of survivors and the purpose of these federal grants. Rather than follow the evidence and support organizations doing the hard work of preventing and responding to violence, the administration targeted organizations and communities it wanted to eliminate — including transgender people,” said Lauren Khouri, senior director of workplace equality at the National Women’s Law Center, which represented the plaintiffs along with Democracy Forward, Jacobson Lawyers Group, National Women’s Law Center, Lawyers’ Committee for Rhode Island, and the ACLU Foundation of Rhode Island.

“The government’s job is to protect survivors, not to pick and choose which survivors count or punish organizations because of whom they serve. Lifesaving funding should never be wielded as a political weapon.”

Read the decision here.

The coalition of plaintiffs in the case released the following statement:

“This is a victory for the survivors of domestic and sexual violence, LGBTQI+ youth, and unhoused individuals and families our organizations serve. We applaud the court’s findings that reject this administration’s attempt to weaponize federal funding to silence, quash, or punish inclusive service providers. This decision shows that the cruel and harmful actions of the administration will not be tolerated. We look forward to continuing our vital work to support our impacted communities.”

The coalition of plaintiffs in the case includes Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence, California Partnership To End Domestic Violence, Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault, District Of Columbia Coalition Against Domestic Violence, End Domestic Abuse Wisconsin: The Wisconsin Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Idaho Coalition Against Sexual And Domestic Violence, Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Jane Doe Inc. (the Massachusetts Coalition Against Sexual Assault And Domestic Violence), Kansas Coalition Against Sexual And Domestic Violence, Montana Coalition Against Domestic And Sexual Violence, North Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Oregon Coalition Against Domestic And Sexual Violence, Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence, ValorUS, Violence Free Minnesota, Virginia Sexual And Domestic Violence Action Alliance, Wisconsin Coalition Against Sexual Assault,  House of Hope Community Development Corporation, Community Care Alliance, Foster Forward, Rhode Island Coalition to End Homelessness, and Haus of Codec