We need your help to save federal funding for survivors.Last night, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) released memo M-25-13, titled “Temporary Pause of Agency Grant, Loan, and Other Financial Assistance Programs.” This memo announces a freeze on federal grants and loans, effective at 5 p.m. ET on January 28, 2025. 

This means that hundreds of thousands of dollars in federal funding is at stake. 

Fortunately, a federal judge has temporarily blocked part of the plan this afternoon. But that temporary pause ends on Monday, February 3.  

We need your help to put a permanent stop to these efforts to freeze federal aid. 

Below are templates you can use to reach out to our state representatives and ask them to take action to halt this order, adapted from our friends at Violence-Free Colorado. Contact information for CO state representatives appears below the templates.

Phone Outreach Template

Hello, this is [YOUR FULL NAME] calling from [YOUR PHONE NUMBER AND CITY/STATE].

I’m calling to express my concern regarding the Office of Management and Budget memo M-25-13, titled “Temporary Pause of Agency Grant, Loan, and Other Financial Assistance Programs,” issued on January 27.

As a constituent and a concerned community member, I am deeply worried that this memo poses a direct threat to survivors of crime. These individuals cannot afford to wait while a federal agency reviews the funding that allows service providers to offer the life-saving shelter and support they urgently need. Survivors require immediate help in the wake of some of the most traumatic and difficult experiences of their lives.

I strongly urge [REPRESENTATIVE NAME] to take all necessary actions to prevent this order from disrupting the essential funding that victim service providers rely on. Any interruption to these funds, will severely compromise service providers’ ability to serve victims and survivors, causing immediate harm to the most vulnerable members of our community.

Thank you.

Email Outreach Template

Subject: Urgent Request to Protect Funding for Survivors of Crime

Dear [REPRESENTATIVE NAME],

I am writing to express my grave concern about the recent Office of Management and Budget memo, M-25-13, titled “Temporary Pause of Agency Grant, Loan, and Other Financial Assistance Programs,” issued on January 27, 2025.

As a constituent and a member of the community, I am deeply worried about the direct impact this memo will have on survivors of crime. These individuals cannot afford delays in receiving the essential services they need. The funding that supports victim service providers, like the shelter and support we offer, is crucial to their immediate recovery. They need help now, in the wake of some of the most traumatic and life-altering experiences.

On behalf of survivors and their families, I respectfully urge you to take all possible actions to prevent this memo from halting the necessary funding that supports victim services. Any interruption in these grants would severely hinder service provider’s ability to serve those in need, causing immediate and significant harm to those who depend on this assistance.

Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter. I trust that you will advocate for the protection of this vital funding, ensuring that victim service providers can continue their critical work.

Sincerely,
[YOUR NAME]
[YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION]

Contact Information

We cannot overstate how absolutely critical federal funding is to providing safe shelter and support to survivors of violence and crime.

Please reach out to our members of Congress TODAY, while we still have time to stop this incredibly damaging order.

We need as many people as possible to advocate for us — so we can keep advocating for YOU.