Federal Court Blocks Trump-Vance Administrations Unlawful Restrictions on Health and Housing Grants

Rhode Island — Today, a federal judge in Rhode Island entered an order preliminarily blocking the sweeping and unlawful restrictions the Trump-Vance administration imposed on federal grants administered by the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Housing and Urban Development (HUD). This decision, which follows an earlier granting of a temporary restraining order, safeguards critical services for survivors of domestic and sexual violence, LGBTQI+ youth, and unhoused communities.

The lawsuit, Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence v. Kennedy, was filed on July 21, 2025, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island. It is backed by a coalition of domestic violence, sexual assault, housing, youth, and homelessness organizations, seeking to block new federal grant conditions targeting diversity, equity, inclusion, and transgender rights. Plaintiffs are represented by Democracy Forward, Jacobson Lawyers Group, National Women’s Law Center, Lawyers’ Committee for Rhode Island, and the ACLU Foundation of Rhode Island.

The coalition of plaintiffs in the case includes Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence, California Partnership To End Domestic Violence, Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault, District Of Columbia Coalition Against Domestic Violence, End Domestic Abuse Wisconsin: The Wisconsin Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Idaho Coalition Against Sexual And Domestic Violence, Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Jane Doe Inc. (the Massachusetts Coalition Against Sexual Assault And Domestic Violence), Kansas Coalition Against Sexual And Domestic Violence, Montana Coalition Against Domestic And Sexual Violence, North Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Oregon Coalition Against Domestic And Sexual Violence, Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence, ValorUS, Violence Free Minnesota, Virginia Sexual And Domestic Violence Action Alliance, Wisconsin Coalition Against Sexual Assault, House of Hope Community Development Corporation, Community Care Alliance, Foster Forward, Rhode Island Coalition to End Homelessness, and Haus of Codec.

The plaintiffs in the case issued the following joint statement:

“We welcome the court’s recognition that the government cannot weaponize funding authority to silence, exclude, or punish inclusive service providers. This decision ensures that vital programs grounded in equity and compassion can continue uninterrupted. Domestic and sexual violence survivors, LGBTQI+ youth, and unhoused individuals deserve dignity and access to support without restrictions—it’s a relief and a win that gives us breathing room to continue this vital work.”

Read the decision here.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.