Domestic violence in the United States has evolved into a deadly crisis for the most vulnerable—overshadowed by inaction and official disregard.
A Hidden Crisis in a Land of Rights
Domestic violence is one of the gravest challenges faced even by Western nations that profess strong women’s rights protections. It is women and children who bear the brunt of this violence. In the Gregorian calendar, October is marked as Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and October 12 is observed as Survivors of Domestic Violence Day. The United States first adopted such observances in 1987. Decades later, however, the domestic violence crisis remains a persistent and stubbornly unresolved issue.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in the year covered by the national intimate partner violence survey, 17 million people were harmed by domestic violence.
These figures reveal the deep magnitude of the problem. Below is a snapshot of key statistics concerning domestic violence in the U.S.:
- On average, 24 people every minute fall victim to rape, physical violence, or stalking by an intimate partner—equating to more than 12 million people over the course of one year.
- Nearly 3 in 10 women (29 %) in the U.S. report that they have experienced intimate partner violence.
- Less than 15 % of American women report being injured by intimate partner violence.
- One in four women aged 18 or older has suffered severe violence from an intimate partner at some point in her life.
- About half of all women report having experienced coercive control or psychological abuse during their lives.
- Women ages 18 to 24 and 25 to 34 face the highest rates of intimate partner violence.
- Between 1994 and 2010, around 4 out of 5 victims of intimate partner violence were women.
- Most female victims had previously been abused by the same perpetrator.
- One in five women in the U.S. has experienced sexual assault in her lifetime.
- 81 % of women who experienced intimate partner violence report significant consequences such as injuries or post-traumatic stress symptoms.
- In one in four domestic violence cases filed in U.S. state courts, children were eyewitnesses to the abuse.
- Between 30 and 60 % of perpetrators also abused children in the household.
- About 40 % of child abuse victims report also being subject to domestic violence.
- Some research indicates that children exposed to domestic violence are 15 times more likely than the national average to be physically or sexually abused.
- According to the U.S. Child Abuse and Neglect Advisory Board, domestic violence might be the single leading cause of death connected to child abuse and neglect.
- Survivors of domestic violence are:
- 3 times more likely to develop PTSD symptoms
- 2 times more likely to display depressive symptoms, and 3 times more likely to develop clinical depression
- 3 times more likely to engage in self-harm
- 3 times more likely to entertain suicidal thoughts and 4 times more likely to attempt suicide
- 6 times more likely to develop substance use disorders
Government Shutdown, Funding Cuts, and Heightened Risk
As Domestic Violence Awareness Month began in 2025, the U.S. federal government entered a shutdown following a budget deadlock between Democrats and Republicans. The shutdown has left many support systems for victims effectively paralyzed.
Among the most alarming impacts:
- The Department of Justice furloughed staff in offices that distribute grants to shelters and organizations aiding survivors, including the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW)—delaying or suspending critical funding.
- Officials fear these disruptions intentionally weaken programs meant to protect victims.
- Under the Trump administration, cuts to federal grants have already threatened shelter closures, reduced service hours, and staff layoffs among domestic violence assistance organizations.
- At the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), reassignment of personnel in the Violence Against Women Act unit could render the department unable to enforce protections for survivors.
Such breakdowns in safety nets intensify the danger for those already trapped in abusive situations.
Who Suffers Most in the Void?
Domestic violence affects all segments of society, but certain groups are disproportionately endangered, particularly when institutional safeguards are weakened.
- Children, immigrants, and people with disabilities are especially vulnerable.
- Barriers such as lack of language access, limited mobility, or fear of deportation can trap these individuals in harmful environments.
- With crippled institutional support during shutdowns or funding cuts, these groups are often left with even fewer avenues for escape or protection.
Domestic violence in America is far more than a social issue—it is a systemic failure, especially under conditions of inaction, austerity, and political paralysis.
From: Politico