SALEM, Ore. – Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield announced a significant legal and legislative offensive on August 18, 2025, as the state joined a coalition of 20 other states and the District of Columbia in suing the Trump administration. At the heart of the dispute are new federal conditions imposed on critical Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funding, which threaten to strip millions from programs supporting survivors of sexual assault, child abuse, and domestic violence across Oregon. The move comes as vital services already face immediate disruptions, underscoring a deepening crisis for the state’s most vulnerable.
The Federal Standoff: VOCA Funds and Sanctuary Status
The Victims of Crime Act (VOCA), established in 1984 under President Ronald Reagan, created the federal Crime Victims Fund (CVF) to support a wide array of services for individuals affected by crime. Uniquely, this fund is sustained not by taxpayer dollars, but by fines and penalties collected from federal criminal convictions, forfeited appearance bonds, and special assessments. It serves as a lifeline for millions nationwide, funding everything from emergency shelters and medical expenses to counseling and victim advocacy during legal proceedings.
However, the Trump administration has introduced controversial new conditions for states to receive these essential funds. These stipulations demand that states comply with federal immigration enforcement efforts, including honoring civil immigration requests, granting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers access to facilities, and providing advance notice of detainee releases. Attorney General Rayfield fiercely condemned these terms, stating that the administration is holding these funds “hostage” from sanctuary states like Oregon. Oregon, the nation’s first sanctuary state since 1987, has laws, including the 2021 Sanctuary Promise Act, that prohibit state and local law enforcement from assisting federal immigration agencies.
Rayfield emphasized that these new conditions are an “unlawful attempt to place conditions on federal funds” that would force Oregon to violate its own long-standing laws and constitutional principles. The lawsuit, filed in the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island as `New Jersey v. U.S. Department of Justice`, argues that the administration is overstepping its constitutional and administrative authority by imposing politically motivated requirements on funds specifically designated for crime victims.
A Devastating Impact on Oregon’s Victim Services
The immediate ramifications of these federal funding cuts are already being felt across Oregon. The Attorney General’s office had projected distributing $15 million for victim services and an additional $3 million for crime victim compensation this year. However, facing a potential total loss of $18.5 million, the state’s 146 victim service providers are in dire straits.
A stark illustration of this crisis emerged on August 14, 2025, when the Sexual Assault Resource Center (SARC) in Beaverton, one of Oregon’s largest facilities of its kind, announced an emergency pause in all its services. This includes their crucial 24-hour support and resource line, in-person accompaniment, counseling, and group services. Brandy Selover, SARC’s Executive Director, stated that the organization, which has served survivors since 1977, is facing “the most difficult moment in our history” due to severe funding cuts and uncertainties.
District Attorneys also highlighted the profound impact on the state’s criminal justice system. John Wentworth, District Attorney for Clackamas County and President of the Oregon District Attorneys Association, warned of a “catastrophic failure in our duty to protect the most vulnerable people in our communities.” His office anticipates losing more than half of its victim advocate positions, while Washington County District Attorney Kevin Barton expects his office to lose a quarter of such roles. These advocates are crucial in guiding victims through the legal process, ensuring their voices are heard, and protecting their rights.
Other critical organizations are similarly affected. CARES Northwest, which provides child abuse evaluations and trauma therapy to 1,300 children annually in the Portland metro area, stands to lose approximately $600,000, or 80% of its annual funding. Executive Director Jenny Gilmore-Robinson expressed concern that children might revert to being interviewed in “chaotic emergency rooms” rather than specialized, trauma-informed settings. Clackamas Women’s Services Executive Director Melissa Erlbaum noted that prior VOCA cuts had already forced them to lay off 17 employees, with further reductions looming.
Oregon State Representative Tawna Sanchez underscored the devastating statewide effect, particularly on highly vulnerable populations. As Clackamas County DA Wentworth starkly put it, “When you cut victim services, you’re choosing to have more crime. A victim without support is a victim who cannot testify. A survivor without a place to go is a survivor who is forced to return to her abuser.”
A Call for State Backfill and Legal Recourse
In response to this immediate crisis, Attorney General Rayfield is urgently appealing to Oregon state lawmakers to backfill the lost federal funds. He acknowledged that this is a substantial request given the state’s existing budget constraints, but stressed that the people relying on these services “absolutely cannot wait.” Potential avenues for state action include an emergency board session or addressing the issue during the legislative short session scheduled for February, although the upcoming special session on transportation funding is unlikely to address this matter.
Oregon’s involvement in the multi-state lawsuit, joining 20 other states and the District of Columbia, represents a robust legal challenge. The coalition argues that the federal conditions not only exceed federal authority but also infringe upon state sovereignty and discriminate against sanctuary jurisdictions. While the lawsuit seeks to declare the Trump administration’s actions unconstitutional, Rayfield cautioned that legal proceedings would not provide immediate relief to the programs facing imminent collapse.
Broader Implications for Public Safety and Trust
The standoff highlights a broader political struggle, with Rayfield accusing the federal administration of using crime victims as “political pawns” to advance an “unpopular political agenda.” The imposition of immigration enforcement conditions on victim services funding risks eroding trust between vulnerable populations and law enforcement, potentially deterring victims from reporting crimes for fear of deportation.
This dire situation creates a profound public safety concern. When vital support structures for crime survivors crumble, it not only compounds the trauma for individuals but also weakens the entire fabric of community safety. The proactive closure of services, reduction in advocate positions, and overall uncertainty threaten decades of progress in providing comprehensive support to those impacted by crime. The fight to restore this critical funding is a fight to preserve a fundamental safety net for thousands of Oregonians in their most desperate moments.
