Assemblywoman Victoria Flynn is criticizing Gov. Mikie Sherrill’s proposed budget after funding reductions for women’s services coincided with a major increase in immigration legal defense spending.
Trenton, N.J. – A growing political fight over New Jersey’s proposed fiscal year 2027 budget is putting state spending priorities under the spotlight after Assemblywoman Victoria Flynn accused Gov. Mikie Sherrill’s administration of reducing funding for women’s services while allocating millions more toward legal defense programs for immigrants facing deportation.
According to budget documents, total funding for Women’s Services programs within the Division on Women would decline from $57.6 million in the revised FY2026 budget to approximately $43.5 million under the proposed FY2027 spending plan.
Key Points
• Women’s Services funding would decrease by more than $14 million under the proposed budget.
• The governor announced an additional $12 million for the Detention Deportation Defense Initiative.
• Assemblywoman Victoria Flynn is questioning the administration’s spending priorities.
Flynn sharply criticized the proposal in a statement posted to social media Friday.
“Did you know the Governor’s FY27 budget proposal cuts over $14 million from women’s services programs — nearly a 25% reduction — but somehow found another $12 million for legal defense programs for individuals facing deportation?” Flynn wrote. “What exactly are the priorities in the State House?”
Women’s services programs face reductions
Budget figures show funding decreases across several programs administered through the Division on Women. Domestic Violence Services funding would fall from $34.2 million in the revised FY2026 budget to $32 million in FY2027, while Sexual Violence Services funding would drop from nearly $16 million to approximately $4.1 million.
The overall Women’s Services budget would decrease by more than $14 million under the proposal, according to the budget documents.
Those figures have become a focal point for critics who argue funding for services supporting domestic violence victims and survivors of sexual violence should remain a priority.
Governor announces immigration legal defense expansion
The criticism follows Sherrill’s announcement that New Jersey will significantly expand funding for legal services aimed at assisting individuals facing deportation proceedings.
“We are increasing funding for the Detention Deportation Defense Initiative by $12 million — for a total of $20.2 million,” Sherrill said in a social media post.
The governor also announced the creation of a Rapid Legal Response Initiative designed to expand statewide legal capacity for emergency immigration matters.
“We are also launching a Rapid Legal Response Initiative to expand statewide legal capacity for emergency immigration defense and support immigrant families across New Jersey,” Sherrill wrote.
Debate over state spending priorities
Sherrill defended the additional funding as a means of ensuring legal representation and due process protections.
“These actions will help ensure more people in New Jersey’s communities receive due process under the law and more New Jersey attorneys are mobilized to stand up for the fundamental human rights of detainees and their families,” the governor said.
The administration has not indicated that the proposed reductions in women’s services funding are directly connected to the increase in immigration legal defense funding. The proposed budget remains subject to negotiations and approval by the Legislature before a final spending plan is adopted.
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