Domestic violence advocates urge restoration of $6.3M in cuts as MPD funding rises

Representatives of domestic violence service organizations told the Committee that proposed cuts to victim services would reduce lifesaving supports at a time when lethal domestic violence incidents were rising. Mikaela Deming, policy director at the DC Coalition Against Domestic Violence, said the district must sustain core programming and specifically urged the Council to "restore the $6,300,000 in cuts to domestic violence and victim services" and provide additional funds to fill gaps for survivors in targeted communities.

Deming and DC Safe's crisis response director described how MPD responses alone cannot meet survivors' needs and pointed to programs that require sustained funding such as shelter, legal representation, trauma-informed services, and U-visa supports for immigrant survivors. Witnesses argued that with MPD receiving roughly a $89 million proposed increase, the council could preserve public safety while protecting the social-safety net. The Committee asked agency witnesses about coordination between MPD, victim services, and referral pathways and requested an itemized account of the proposed cuts and their direct implications for service capacity.