The Coalition Ending Gender-Based Violence was invited to speak to the Select Committee on Federal Administration and Policy Changes at Seattle City Hall on July 18, 2025.
This committee was created to identify changes in federal government policy that could threaten funding to the City of Seattle in areas such as housing, public safety, climate change, public health, human and social services, immigration and education.
The Coalition was proud to attend the committee as a panelist along with other partners in human services, and to have the opportunity to share the impact of the federal administration’s policies on local gender-based violence programs.
Federal funding for gender-based violence programs is being negatively impacted by recent executive orders on “gender ideology”, “illegal immigrants” and diversity equity and inclusion. These orders attempt to erase gender identity, erode progress in supporting BIPOC communities, and vilify our refugee and immigrant communities.
The Coalition was able to share how these orders and the foundation of patriarchy they rely upon, are in direct opposition to our collective values of ending gender-based violence and how these cuts to funding will impact local programs.
Amarinthia Torres, Co-Executive Director-Policy of CEGV, shared, “These harmful restrictions on funding combined with the executive orders, force programs to make impossible choices; deny lifesaving services to immigrant and LGBTQ survivors or get cut off from funding. Many programs have just self-selected out of funding they would normally be eligible for due to this impasse. Additionally, some programs are navigating the precarious position of being out of compliance with VAWA and Congress if they apply, since those laws are still standing. All of this will of course impact the sustainability of our local programs and the availability of services to victims and survivors who courageously disclose abuse”
Finally, the Coalition shared with Seattle City Councilmembers our recommendations for how to move forward together including the need for autonomous local government and stable, fair and local revenue to help insulate our communities and our values from the encroachment of abuses of power at the federal level.
We believe it will take all of us working together in ever widening coalitions and we look forward to continuing to partner with local government and the broader human service sector!
If you want to watch or listen to this Select Committee on Federal Administration and Policy Changes or any of the previous committee’s you can check it out at Seattle Channel.