On April 1, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a massive wave of job cuts, or Reductions in Force (RIF), having devastating impacts on programs that respond to sexual assault and domestic violence.

The Program Branch of the CDC Division of Violence Prevention (DVP) was decimated. This branch, part of the Injury Center, is responsible for administering the Rape Prevention and Education (RPE) program and the Domestic Violence Prevention Enhancements and Leadership Through Alliances (DELTA) program.

Additionally, the Director of the Office of Family Violence Prevention and Services (OFVPS) in the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), was placed on administrative leave. This office administers the FVPSA grants as well as ARP funds to respond to sexual assault and domestic violence.

We need to take action now to express our grave concern about the impacts this will have on the nation’s response to sexual assault and domestic violence.

These reductions in force will interrupt essential functions of our work and threaten decades of a successful public health response to sexual assault and domestic violence.

Please contact Senators Baldwin and Johnson and your Representative with this message today:

HHS must reinstate the Division of Violence Prevention Program Branch at the CDC to ensure critical sexual assault and domestic violence prevention work can continue.

HHS must also reinstate the Director of the Office on Family Violence Prevention and Services to ensure continued essential leadership functions of this program.

Our communities depend on OFVPS and the CDC Division of Violence Prevention to support our lifesaving work to provide services to victims and prevent violence in our communities. These programs save lives, but they also save money. Cutting these important programs will lead to greater inefficiency.

Ron Johnson (R)

(202) 224-5323 | @SenRonJohnson

Tammy Baldwin (D)

(202) 224-5653 | @SenatorBaldwin

Find Your Representative: ziplook.house.gov