The Change in the Trafficking in Persons Report: A Step Backward

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Since 2000, the annual Trafficking in Persons Report has been the most effective government tool in combating human trafficking globally. The report evaluates countries’ successes and failures, offering specific recommendations for improvements. Beginning in 2010, the U.S. was also scrutinized by the same standards.

The 2026 report marks a significant regression, removing all prioritized recommendations and reducing the focus on governments’ inadequacies in addressing human trafficking. This report, delayed by over three months, follows last year’s significant reductions in staff due to mass layoffs and early retirements within the State Department’s trafficking office, leaving it at a fraction of its previous capacity.

This year’s report has omitted all of its nearly 2,000 prioritized recommendations in 188 countries. These recommendations were crucial, guiding governments on improvements needed and serving as a basis to track their progress. Without them, the report lacks substance. Additionally, the 2026 report has cut about 40% of the previous year’s content, specifically regarding extraterritorial child sexual exploitation, child sexual abuse material, male victimization, the LGBTQ+ community, NGOs, and trafficking survivors.

Beyond evaluating foreign efforts, the report also critically reviews U.S. actions against trafficking. The current section on the U.S. is about a third of last year’s length and no longer includes any recommendations, whereas previously, there were 14. Important findings from NGOs and survivors are absent, including details on the Jeffrey Epstein case and relevant legislation like the Epstein Files Transparency Act and issues with the Justice Department’s handling of evidence.

The U.S.’s supposed achievement highlighted this year is “strengthened immigration enforcement at the border.” Organizations such as Protect All Children from Trafficking highlight that mass-deportation efforts jeopardize child trafficking survivors. The report’s omissions are troubling, omitting last year’s alerts about the threats deportation poses to unrecognized trafficking victims. Also gone are acknowledgments of resource cuts, the termination of legal services contracts for unaccompanied children, and T-visas processing delays. Critical details, like a 77% decrease in federal funding for victim services and substantial cuts for youth trafficking prevention, are noted without discussing their effects.

There are genuine advancements to recognize. Federal trafficking convictions increased from 210 to 293, and the Trafficking Survivors Relief Act offers a federal process for survivors to clear criminal records accrued under duress. However, a report praising enforcement while remaining silent on declining victim services lacks honesty.

Protect All Children from Trafficking provided recommendations for the U.S.’s narrative to the State Department, advocating for prevention education, the role of the transportation sector in prevention, acknowledgment of boys’ vulnerability, real survivor leadership in program design, and how immigration enforcement hinders victim identification. These were largely excluded from the report, except for minor references like Florida’s HB 1237, detailing human trafficking training in schools, and prevention education funding cuts.

The report failed to highlight boys’ issues and minimally mentioned transportation workers. Survivor involvement was reduced to noting an advisory council meeting, while the immigration policy was misleadingly reshaped as a key anti-trafficking measure.

The next steps include expanding the Trafficking in Persons Office’s capacity and resources to ensure comprehensive reports, restoring prioritized recommendations, and reinforcing them through diplomatic efforts. Congress can play a role through oversight hearings and reauthorizing the Trafficking Victims Protection Act, restoring funding for victim services and education, and ensuring legal representation for unaccompanied minors.

The U.S. initiated the global anti-trafficking guidelines. A reduced Trafficking in Persons Report that softens the critique of the U.S. and its allies only facilitates ignorance of children’s exploitation rather than their protection.

Aram A. Schvey is the Senior Director of Policy and Government Relations at Protect All Children from Trafficking and formerly worked as a Senior Congressional Advisor in the State Department’s Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons.