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    Violence Against Women Act (VAWA): grants, 2022 law and what's next

    Also known as VAWA, Violence Against Women Act of 1994, VAWA Reauthorization Act of 2022

    The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) is the 1994 US law behind most federal grants for domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking services, run by the Justice Department's Office on Violence Against Women.[1][2] Its 2022 reauthorization funds the grant programs until 2027. In 2025-26, state coalitions challenged new Justice Department grant conditions in court, and one FY 2026 condition is stayed.[3][4][5]

    Editor reviewedStrict sourcingUpdated WikiSocial welfare, Tech policy
    Key facts

    The Violence Against Women Act is the main US federal law that funds services for survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking.[2] The Justice Department’s Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) does not offer direct services. Anyone who needs help can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or 911 in an emergency.[2][6][7] This page summarises the law and its politics neutrally. It is not legal advice.

    History

    Congress passed VAWA in 1994 and reauthorized it in 2000, 2005, 2013 and 2022.[1] OVW was created in 1995 to run the programs.[2] The 2022 reauthorization was signed in March 2022 as part of an omnibus spending law. It reauthorized all VAWA grant programs until 2027, in many cases at higher authorized levels.[3] It also expanded tribal courts’ special criminal jurisdiction over non-Native perpetrators. The expansion covers sexual assault, child abuse, stalking, sex trafficking and assaults on tribal officers on tribal lands.[8]

    What VAWA funds

    OVW administers more than two dozen grant programs, most of them authorized by VAWA.[2] Some are discretionary, awarded competitively after merit review. Others are formula or quasi-formula grants that go to every eligible applicant.[9] Grantees provide victim services, criminal justice responses, civil legal assistance and medical forensic care.[9]

    The 2027 deadline

    The grant authorizations in the 2022 law run until 2027.[3] In an earlier lapse, OVW said VAWA has no sunset provision. The expiry of its funding authorizations affects the grant programs, not the law’s other legal protections.[10]

    The fight over grant conditions (2025-26)

    In June 2025, state domestic violence and sexual assault coalitions sued the Justice Department in the US District Court for Rhode Island over new conditions attached to OVW grants.[4] According to the plaintiffs’ lawyers, the conditions targeted grantees that run diversity, equity and inclusion programmes, serve immigrants or recognise gender identity, among other things.[11] The court granted a preliminary injunction in August 2025.[12] As of October 2026, OVW’s FY 2026 grant terms say general condition #15 is under a preliminary stay in the case and cannot be enforced on FY 2026 awards unless the stay is lifted.[5]

    VAWA sits alongside other federal domestic violence laws. Under 18 U.S.C. § 2265, states must give full faith and credit to valid protection orders from other states and tribes.[13] Federal law also bars people under qualifying domestic violence restraining orders from possessing firearms. The Supreme Court upheld that approach in United States v. Rahimi (2024).[14][15] For definitions and data, see domestic violence explained. For current developments, see the policy tracker.

    Next in the crash course

    Questions readers ask

    What does VAWA do?

    It authorizes federal grant programs, administered by the Justice Department's Office on Violence Against Women, that fund victim services, criminal justice responses, civil legal assistance and medical forensic care for domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking.[2][9]

    When does VAWA expire?

    The 2022 reauthorization funds VAWA grant programs until 2027. The Justice Department's violence-against-women office has said VAWA has no sunset provision; when authorizations lapse, that affects the grant programs, not the law's other legal protections.[3][10]

    What did the 2022 reauthorization change?

    Besides reauthorizing the grants, it expanded tribal courts' special criminal jurisdiction over non-Native perpetrators of sexual assault, child abuse, stalking, sex trafficking and assaults on tribal officers on tribal lands.[8]

    Is there a lawsuit over VAWA grants?

    Yes. State domestic violence and sexual assault coalitions sued the Justice Department in Rhode Island in June 2025 over new grant conditions, and the court granted a preliminary injunction in August 2025. OVW's FY 2026 terms say condition[4][12][5]

    Does OVW help victims directly?

    No. OVW funds programs but does not provide direct services. Victims can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233.[2][6]

    Sources

    · 15 claims from 11 publishers

    Each numbered claim is a statement we checked against the sources listed with it. Tap a number in the text to see its sources in place.

    1. [1]

      Congress passed the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) in 1994 and reauthorized it in 2000, 2005, 2013 and 2022. confirmedas of 2026-10-11

    2. [2]

      The Justice Department's Office on Violence Against Women (OVW), created in 1995, administers more than two dozen federal grant programs, most authorized by VAWA, and does not provide direct services to the public. confirmedas of 2026-10-11

    3. [3]

      The VAWA Reauthorization Act of 2022, signed in March 2022 as part of an omnibus appropriations law, reauthorized all VAWA grant programs until 2027. confirmedas of 2022-03-16

    4. [4]

      State domestic violence and sexual assault coalitions sued the Justice Department in the US District Court for Rhode Island on June 16, 2025 (case 1:25-cv-00279), challenging new conditions on OVW grants. confirmedas of 2025-06-16

    5. [5]

      As of October 2026, OVW's FY 2026 grant terms say general award condition confirmedas of 2026-10-11

    6. [6]

      The US National Domestic Violence Hotline can be reached by calling 1-800-799-7233 (800-799-SAFE), by texting START to 88788 or by online chat, and describes its service as free, confidential and 24/7. confirmedas of 2026-10-11

    7. [7]

      The National Domestic Violence Hotline tells people in immediate danger or a life-threatening situation to contact 911. confirmedas of 2026-10-11

      • Plan for Safety · National Domestic Violence Hotline (retrieved 2026-10-11)
    8. [8]

      The 2022 reauthorization expanded tribal courts' special criminal jurisdiction over non-Native perpetrators to cover sexual assault, child abuse, stalking, sex trafficking and assaults on tribal law enforcement officers on tribal lands. confirmedas of 2022-03-16

    9. [9]

      Some OVW grant programs are discretionary and competitive, while others are formula or quasi-formula awards that go to all eligible applicants; grantees provide victim services, criminal justice responses, civil legal assistance and medical forensic care. confirmedas of 2026-10-11

    10. [10]

      OVW has stated that VAWA has no sunset provision; when its authorizations lapse, that affects the grant programs' funding authorizations, not the law's other legal protections. confirmedas of 2020-02-19

    11. [11]

      According to the plaintiffs' counsel, the lawsuit challenged DOJ grant conditions aimed at grantees that run diversity, equity and inclusion programs, serve immigrants or recognise gender identity, among other things. reportedas of 2026-10-01

    12. [12]

      The court granted the coalitions a preliminary injunction in August 2025, temporarily blocking the OVW grant conditions. confirmedas of 2025-08-08

    13. [13]

      Under federal law (18 U.S.C. § 2265), a qualifying protection order issued by one state, tribe or territory must be given full faith and credit and enforced by the courts and police of another. confirmedas of 2026-10-11

    14. [14]

      18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(8) is a federal law that prohibits people subject to a qualifying domestic violence restraining order from possessing a firearm. confirmedas of 2026-10-11

    15. [15]

      On June 21, 2024, in United States v. Rahimi, the Supreme Court held that a person found by a court to pose a credible threat to another's physical safety may be temporarily disarmed consistent with the Second Amendment. confirmedas of 2024-06-21

    Revision history (1)
    1. Page created.

    Created Oct 11, 2026. Last reviewed by an editor on Oct 11, 2026. Next scheduled review: Jan 31, 2027.

    Cite this page

    "Violence Against Women Act (VAWA): grants, 2022 law and what's next." ContentLora, updated Oct 11, 2026. https://contentlora.com/wiki/violence-against-women-act

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