Protect Federal Funding and Maintain Support for Innocence Programs and Forensic Science Research

Call your lawmakers today to protect the innocent: 757-207-3390

A proposed funding freeze, disruption of FY25 grant applications, and potential funding cuts threaten federal programs, including innocence programs and forensic science research. 

In late January, the Trump Administration announced a freeze of federal funding, causing mass confusion among grantees and contractors. This freeze is being litigated in multiple courts while temporary restraining orders have paused it for the time being. Additionally, government agencies, including DOJ, have recalled many FY25 grant solicitations while it conducts a review of federal programs. This removal of current solicitations interrupts the FY25 grant competition process at a critical point, leaving applicants unsure about whether and how much federal funding will be available to support key programs. Meanwhile, the Congressional majority is pushing to cut federal spending by trillions of dollars.

The law does not give the President unlimited authority to ignore Congressional appropriations and decide which programs get funded. Congress must defend its constitutional “power of the purse” to appropriate and direct federal funding while also maintaining robust funding levels for critical federal programs.