The Trump administration has repeatedly stated that combating human trafficking is one of its main priorities, but over the past six months, investigations have slowed down, and the number of criminal prosecutions has decreased. Among the reasons cited are a shortage of personnel, reduced funding, increased immigration control, and growing distrust of the government among victims. This is evidenced by Reuters interviews with 25 former prosecutors, current agents, and representatives of organizations that help victims, as well as an analysis of federal court documents.
Federal human trafficking charges this year have fallen to the lowest level since 2010. By June, the Department of Justice had charged 73 individuals — approximately 22% fewer than the average for the first half of each of the previous three years, court records show. The number of charges for related crimes has also decreased: 1,230 individuals were charged with crimes related to child pornography, which is 3% lower than the average for the same period over the past three years. Another 318 individuals were charged with violating the Mann Act, which prohibits the transportation of people across state lines for the purpose of prostitution, — 18% lower than the average.
This decline reflects a broader shift in the priorities of federal law enforcement under President Donald Trump, who has cut agency budgets and devoted significant resources to deportations. The number of people charged with crimes not related to immigration — from tax evasion to drug trafficking — has also decreased by 7%, to approximately 22,000, court records show.
“You can’t say something is a priority and then not provide the resources to implement it,” said Jacqueline Kelly, a former federal prosecutor in New York who oversaw the criminal prosecution of rapper and actor Sean “Diddy” Combs. He was accused of human trafficking but was ultimately convicted on two counts of transporting people for the purpose of prostitution.
These findings were released just as Congress confirmed Trump’s nominee Todd Blanche as Attorney General by a vote of 50 to 49. Two Republicans voted against his candidacy. It faced bipartisan criticism over the handling of documents related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, as well as the transfer of his associate Ghislaine Maxwell to a minimum-security prison shortly after Blanche personally interviewed her.
A stated priority and a lack of resources
Recently, Todd Blanche told Congress that combating human trafficking “remains a priority for the Department, given the severity of the harm it causes.” The administration has also appointed a new national coordinator for child exploitation and human trafficking issues — career prosecutor Alessandra Serrano. In statements to Reuters, Serrano emphasized that the Department remains committed to combating human trafficking. According to her, the reduction in the number of new prosecutions may be partially explained by the fact that prosecutors and investigators are spending significant time reviewing a large number of already open cases, which distracts them from starting new investigations.
A representative of the Department of Homeland Security, Kathryn Curry, declined to comment on the Reuters analysis of human trafficking cases. She stated that the agency is committed to both immigration control and combating sexual crimes, emphasizing the “unwavering commitment to eliminating human trafficking networks.”
Staff turnover and frozen investigations
Human trafficking cases are among the most complex to investigate and prosecute: they require investigation of psychological abuse, tracking of illegal financial transactions, and gaining the trust of traumatized victims. According to seven former prosecutors who worked on such cases, dozens of experienced specialists have recently left the Department. For part of last year, most HSI (Homeland Security Investigations) agents were involved in immigration issues, according to current agents and previous Reuters reports.
In some federal prosecutor offices, the staff shortage is so acute that agents working on human trafficking cases cannot find prosecutors to handle them. Serrano noted that staff turnover is normal for such positions, as working on human trafficking cases “drains people more than other types of cases.” At the same time, prosecutors who recently left their positions stated that this time the turnover was greater than usual. Serrano added that the Department is actively recruiting new employees.
One veteran federal agent, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that human trafficking ceased to be a priority after Trump took office and began his campaign of mass deportations. Due to the reduction in the number of agents handling such cases, many active investigations are effectively frozen, and new cases are rarely opened, seven former prosecutors and three agents told Reuters. “The administration is throwing sand in the gears in 10,000 different ways,” said Martina Vandenberg, president of the Human Trafficking Legal Center.
The reassignment of agents, sometimes to other cities, disrupts the fragile relationships with victims and witnesses of human trafficking, who often do not have phones or stable housing. This can lead to the collapse of cases. One human trafficking victim in New England witnessed her case stall after agents reported being transferred to work on immigration control. Such changes make victims understand that their cases and safety are not a priority, noted an employee of a local human rights organization.
The disappearance of grants and undermining trust
Along with the reduction in personnel, financial support aimed at helping victims stay in safe and stable conditions necessary for testifying has also decreased. The Office of Justice Programs of the Department of Justice typically distributes about $90 million annually in grants to support human trafficking victims. These funds are received by non-profit organizations that provide emergency housing, food, and psychological assistance. However, grant recipients reported that some payments were delayed or frozen as part of Trump’s efforts to reduce federal spending.
Assistant Attorney General Stanley Woodard stated that most grants for the past year have been allocated but did not provide specific figures. According to him, the Department is reviewing the remaining applications to ensure they align with the administration’s priorities. Alan Smith, executive director of the Los Angeles organization Saving Innocence, reported that two federal grants totaling $700,000 were delayed for nearly a year. Although the organization was able to continue its work, other groups told Reuters that due to the loss of grants, they were forced to discontinue some programs or reduce services.
Historically, federal prosecutors have offered so-called T-visas, which provide victims of human trafficking with legal immigration status and can encourage their cooperation with law enforcement. In the first six months
