Sacred Responsibility: Protecting Our People
Since the start of 2025, federal funding cuts across U.S. agencies have disrupted how American Indians and Alaska Natives access health services and programs, including those that support survivors of violence. In July 2026, Urban Indian Health Institute (UIHI) released the following report that examines the impacts of these funding cuts to violence-related programs and services, including those serving survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and missing and murdered Indigenous people.
The analyses and recommendations presented in the report can be used to educate partners and legislators about the impact of federal funding cuts to violence-related services in Indian Country.
Sacred Responsibility: Protecting Our People
About the Survey
A total of 201 programs and organizations nationwide responded to the survey, including Tribes, Tribal organizations or coalitions, Native nonprofits, and Urban Indian Organizations (UIOs). Respondents were asked a series of questions focused on funding mechanisms, services provided in the past 12 months, unmet service requests, and Tribal law enforcement.
Survey participants spanned Indian Country.
Findings Snapshot
View the full report to read all the findings.
- 64% of survey participants reported being substantially impacted by funding cuts since January 2025.
- 44% of survey participants' current survivor services have or will be reduced due to funding cuts.
- Federal funding covered 50% of the budgets for 84% of survey participants
- Safe housing was the most utilized survivor service of survey participants.
- Of 25,074 Native survivors who received services from survey participants in a 12-month period, 28% were children (under 18) and 8% were pregnant or postpartum.
- 20% of services provided to active duty or veteran victims were reduced due to funding cuts.
16 organizations claimed that funding for culturally specific services had been reduced or eliminated since January 2025.
Partner toolkit
We encourage partners to share this report and the findings on social media.
Visit the link below to find sample posts and graphics.
Acknowledgements
UIHI partnered with National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), Alaska Native Women’s Resource Center (ANWRC), National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center (NIWRC), StrongHearts Native Helpline, and Alliance of Tribal Coalitions to End Violence (ATCEV) to conduct the research for this report.