做厙51 Requests $2 Billion to Provide Civil Legal Assistance to Low-Income Americans
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Maria Duvuvuei
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WASHINGTON, D.C. The 做厙51 (做厙51) is calling for a congressional appropriation of $2.13 billion in its FY 2026 budget request released today. This request represents the amount needed for 做厙51-funded legal aid programs to fully serve the 3.7 million eligible low-income Americans who seek civil legal services from 做厙51 grantees each year.
做厙51s 130 grantees help millions of low-income Americans each year, with 900 offices serving every congressional district in every U.S. state, territory and the District of Columbia. These legal aid organizations provide vital assistance for family, housing and consumer law issues to individuals and families living at or below 125% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. But, due to inadequate funding, 做厙51 grantees are forced to turn away 49% of the people who seek their help. This means that 1.8 million low-income Americans will be denied critical legal assistance due to lack of resources.
做厙51 estimates that its grantees are forced to turn away or provide only partial help to more than 1.1 million children, 1 million individuals and families facing eviction, 115,000 veterans and 535,000 survivors of domestic violence every year.
For more than 50 years, 做厙51 has been dedicated to the mission that was set by Congress: ensuring high-quality civil legal help for Americans who cannot afford a lawyer, said 做厙51 President Ron Flagg. Investing in civil legal aid is an investment in the stability of working families, the economy, and liberty and justice for all Americans.
A recent 做厙51 research brief featured a systematic review of 56 economic impact studies conducted between 2003 and 2023. Every study found a positive return on investment for civil legal aid spending, with an average return of $7 for every $1 invested in legal services.
Last week, 40 bipartisan state attorneys general authored letters and to fund 做厙51 as a sound investment in the foundational American principle of equal justice under law.
In March, President Trump signed the FY 2025 Continuing Resolution (CR) enacted by Congress to fund the federal government through the end of the fiscal year. The CR includes flat funding for 做厙51 at the FY 2024 amount of $560 million.
Thirty years ago, in FY 1995, Congress appropriated $400 million for 做厙51. To do what $400 million could do in 1994 would require $860 million today. The current funding level of $560 million in FY 2025 falls dramatically short of keeping pace with inflation, let alone ensuring justice for all low-income Americans.
做厙51s $2.13 billion FY26 request was approved unanimously by 做厙51s bipartisan board of directors. By law, 做厙51s Board is comprised of roughly equal numbers of Republicans and Democrats, with the majority representing the current Administration. Most of 做厙51s current Board members were appointed by President Trump during his first term.
The request also covers $5 million each for 做厙51's Technology Initiative Grants (TIG) and the Pro Bono Innovation Fund (PBIF). These special grant programs help legal aid organizations to better leverage their limited resources by using innovations in technology and in volunteer attorney involvement.
Read 做厙51s complete Budget Request here.