Department of Justice (DOJ) Assistant Inspector General Performing the Duties of the Inspector General M. Sean O’Neill announced today the release of a report on the utilization of two DOJ Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) formula grant programs: the Services, Training, Officers, and Prosecutors (STOP) Violence Against Women program, and the Sexual Assault Services program (SASP). Together, these programs distribute $200 million annually to state administering agencies in U.S. states, territories, and the District of Columbia, which then subaward funds to organizations dedicated to combating violence against women.
The DOJ Office of the Inspector General’s (OIG) audit identified $22,068,208 of STOP and SASP program funding in expired grant accounts. We also identified an additional $1,159,509 in funds that had been received by state administering agencies in excess of what was reported as spent. As of May 15, 2026, the OVW had addressed $15,757,206 of these dollar-related findings. We believe the OVW should develop a plan to ensure sustained compliance with federal grant closeout requirements.
In addition, the OIG found that while some state administering agencies spend program funds slower than others, the spending strategies of the nine state agencies we reviewed appeared reasonable and over 95 percent of these programs’ funding was ultimately used. However, we identified challenges, such as staff turnover and delays in using funds by OVW’s initial deadline, that can complicate the state agencies’ ability to administer these grants. Due to significant increases of funding to these programs in recent years, the OVW should monitor fund utilization moving forward.
The OIG made three recommendations to address grant closeout issues, and the OVW agreed with all three recommendations.