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A consortium of 74 religious, legal, and support entities across the US has raised alarms regarding the withholding of $88 million in federal funding designated for individuals escaping forced labor.

Services Under Threat

According to a unified message, the DOJ has frozen financial support for more than 100 assistance organizations that assist individuals escape their traffickers and secure necessary resources like emergency shelter, therapy, and personalized care.

"Permitting these funds to disappear would facilitate modern slavery and put survivors’ lives at risk," the document warns. "Numerous areas will lack their sole assistance organization, stranding victims with no safe emergency housing."

Urgent Request

The coalition is urging Congress to encourage the executive branch to release the funding to support countless trafficking survivors across the country.

This request follows findings that the national leadership has reduced efforts to fight forced labor, even as spokespersons reject any withdrawal on human rights policies.

Effects on Local Areas

• Numerous service organizations lost their financial backing effective the end of last month.
• In the absence of these funds, individuals may go without to crucial assistance such as safe shelter, counseling, and legal aid.
• Exploiters could exploit freely, endangering public safety.

Administration's Position

When asked about inquiries over the frozen funds, the DOJ clarified that funds allocated by lawmakers would be distributed in due course, but emphasized that previous grantees wouldn’t necessarily obtain money in the next cycle.

Future appropriations are to be determined aligned with the leadership's objectives, the department commented.

Past Endorsement

The document also highlights that the legislative branch has repeatedly approved to fund these services over the last quarter-century, reinforcing the vital necessity of adequately resourcing lifesaving programs to assist individuals and prevent re-exploitation.