The American Bar Association (ABA) is challenging the U.S. Justice Department’s decision to terminate $3.2 million in grants that support legal assistance programs for domestic violence victims. According to the ABA, the cuts—deemed retaliatory by its attorneys—are politically motivated, stemming from disagreements with positions the organization has taken that are contrary to the current administration’s policies. During a hearing on Monday, ABA lawyer Christina Coogle argued that the withdrawal of funding amounts to retaliation, urging a federal judge in Washington, D.C., to issue a preliminary injunction to halt the Justice Department’s actions.
This development marks another chapter in ongoing tensions between federal agencies and the ABA. Notably, the association previously lost access to $69 million in U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) funding, further straining resources for its programs. While the Justice Department has not publicly commented on these latest legal proceedings, the case could set an important precedent regarding federal grant allocations and non-governmental organizations’ autonomy. For more details, see the report on Bloomberg Law.