On Monday, February 24, 2025, The Minnesota Indian Women’s Sexual Assault Coalition (MIWSAC) attended a press conference at the Minnesota State Capitol to address the potential and felt impacts of possible federal funding cuts on state coalitions. The conference featured speakers from coalitions across the state, including Kenosha Alexander from Minnesota Coalition Against Sexual Assault (MNCASA) and Guadalupe Lopez from Violence Free Minnesota, and Minnesota state officials including Minnesota State Senator Claire Oumou Verbeten.
This conference also highlighted the need for an increase in Crime Victim Services funding within the state to combat the potential of federal funding cuts. Our state coalitions–from sexual assault advocacy and training organizations like MIWSAC, to domestic violence shelters, to child abuse centers—rely on federal funding. Without these federal funds, there is talk of scaling back services, cutting staff, giving up office space, etc.
Organizations being affected by federal funding cuts will have a lasting and greater impact on other services in Minnesota as well. “Our law enforcement cannot keep up with it. Our child systems cannot keep up with the work we touch on a day-to-day basis,” said Guadalupe Lopez, Executive Director of Violence Free Minnesota and Minnesota Indian Women’s Sexual Assault Coalition Circle Keeper.
Tribal and state coalitions within Minnesota risk losing much of their funding if these federal funding cuts are passed. This funding provides for necessary direct services to survivors, communities, and Tribes across the state. Prevention work, direct services to survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence, and anti-violence work saves lives. These services are a lifeline, and this work is integral to keeping our communities safe.
Read more about the 2/24/25 press conference in The Minnesota Star Tribune.