Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty statement in response to massive federal funding stoppages

Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty released the following statement in response to massive federal funding stoppages impacting sexual assault testing and victim services:

“By halting a huge portion of federal funding and grants without warning, the Trump administration made it clear it only cares about the rich and powerful. We should stop pretending it cares about anyone else, or that it cares about public safety. This “pause” -- which for some critical funding would likely be permanent if the Trump administration prevails in court -- attacks children who need food at school, people who need life-saving treatments, and people who need shelter to escape from domestic violence. Halting this funding is catastrophic for nearly everyone in this country.

“It strikes at our ability to keep people safe. It takes away funding for sexual assault testing, victim support, and substance use treatment. It makes it harder for both police and our office to hold people accountable because we might not be able to test evidence. It is, quite frankly, disgusting and dangerous.

“I promise that we are committed to protecting communities, unlike this administration. We are working alongside Attorney General Keith Ellison, and we are grateful for his leadership and partnership in standing up for the people in our communities. If these federal-funding pauses survive challenges in court, rest assured we will find other ways to continue supporting victims and work alongside community partners to implement the policies that prevent crime in the first place, keeping people safe.”

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