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Representatives Debbie Dingell (MI-06), Gwen Moore (WI-04), and Lucy McBath (GA-06) today sent a letter to Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, expressing deep concern about staff and budget cuts to programs that support survivors of domestic and sexual violence and their families. They also requested an explanation into the Administration’s decision to fire Shawndell Dawson, the Director of the Office of Family Violence Prevention and Services (OFVPS), along with thousands of federal employees whose work focuses on preventing gender-based violence and informing violence prevention efforts.

“The Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA) program, under the HHS Administration for Children and Families (ACF), is the only federal funding source dedicated to domestic violence and sexual assault shelters and programs and is the cornerstone of our nation’s efforts to address domestic and sexual violence,” the lawmakers wrote. “It supports lifesaving services including emergency shelters, counseling, and crisis hotlines- including the National Domestic Violence Hotline, which has provided comprehensive, often lifesaving support for over 7 million contacts. There are approximately 2,000 FVSPA-funded community-based domestic violence programs and over 240 tribes and tribal organizations for victims and their children. FVPSA also supports a children’s services program that allows communities to receive targeted training and funding to meet the specific and unique needs of children coping with the impacts of domestic violence.”

“On March 31st, Shawndell Dawson, the Director of the Office of Family Violence Prevention and Services (OFVPS), responsible for administering FVPSA, was placed on administrative leave, leaving OFVPS without the leadership and expertise of someone with more than 28 years of experience in supporting survivors and their families,” the lawmakers continued. “OFVPS plays a unique role in domestic and sexual violence response and prevention, and requires an office dedicated solely to this unique role, led by someone with appropriate expertise. We request your swift response to explain the grounds for this action, and what your plan is to reinstate Director Dawson and limit the negative impact on the Office’s ability to administer FVPSA. We would also like to request a meeting with Katherine Chon, who is currently overseeing the OFVPS.”

“We are also concerned over reports that thousands of federal employees at the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) were subject to a reduction in force, including those in the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. The Injury Center administers the Rape Prevention and Education (RPE) and the Domestic Violence Prevention Enhancement and Leadership Through Alliance (DELTA) grants, which are the only federal funds dedicated to the primary prevention of domestic and sexual based violence,” the lawmakers concluded. “The center also administers the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey, which collects comprehensive data that informs both public health response and violence prevention efforts. These critical programs are evidence based, successful, and require adequate staffing at the CDC to help local grantees to implement their work. We ask that you immediately rescind the reduction in force for these important initiatives, and explain how you will ensure that these programs continue to operate effectively. We would also like to request the contact information for the official who is currently overseeing the CDC Injury Center.”

The Members requested a response to their letter by April 30, 2025. 

View the full text of the letter here.