Despite vocal commitments to combat human trafficking, the Trump administration’s actions have severely undermined child protection efforts, both within the United States and abroad.
At a Glance
- Justice Department froze 365 federal grants tied to child welfare and trafficking response
- USAID and State Department cuts halted global anti-trafficking programs
- CASA/GAL advocacy and support services for abused children face collapse
- International programs in Africa and Southeast Asia were immediately suspended
- Advocates decry hypocrisy of cuts amid past anti-trafficking rhetoric
Funding Cuts Erode Safety Net
While public discourse focused on high-profile trafficking conspiracies and political grandstanding, the Trump administration enacted sweeping federal cuts that quietly crippled real-world protections for at-risk children. According to WIRED, USAID and State Department programs designed to combat online exploitation, fund safe houses, and support survivor rehabilitation were paused or terminated with little warning.
Chantal Yelu Mulop, a government advisor in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, described how funding suddenly disappeared: “When we bring them there, USAID was ready to help. A few hours later they cancel.” These cancellations left local partners without the means to shelter or assist rescued children.
Advocacy programs within the U.S. also faced catastrophic disruption. As CBS News reported, the Justice Department suspended 365 grant programs, stalling initiatives aimed at addressing trafficking, child abuse, and domestic violence. The funding freeze came at a time when many shelters were already under severe financial pressure due to rising demand.
Watch CBS’s full report on the funding freeze and its fallout at this segment.
Collapsing Services and Compromised Programs
Programs like Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) and Guardians Ad Litem (GAL)—which provide court-based representation for abused and neglected children—have been among the hardest hit. Without federal support, these programs cannot maintain caseloads or ensure oversight in family court settings. Jessica Ryckman of ChildFund International told WIRED, “Many of these victims engage with their traffickers through electronic means,” emphasizing the need for tech-informed response systems, now defunded.
Meanwhile, efforts to train police, build online crime tracking databases, and enhance forensic capabilities in developing countries have stalled. Advocates warn that the abrupt funding halt is not only disabling existing infrastructure but also jeopardizing long-term global counter-trafficking efforts.
Criticism of Priorities and Rhetoric
Critics have called out the Trump administration for what they see as a betrayal of anti-trafficking promises. “The cuts are an existential nightmare of sorts for children and advocates everywhere,” Spehar, a veteran child welfare advocate, told MSNBC. “It feels deeply hypocritical for the man who once claimed to ‘fight for the voiceless’ to cut funding to this degree.”
The funding gap also threatens successful international partnerships. For example, U.S.-Philippines cooperation on combating child sexual abuse and rescue operations—long considered a model—faces collapse due to lost financial backing.
Renee Williams, whose organization serves domestic trafficking survivors, warned via CBS News: “After calling us, countless victims indicated that they had nowhere else to turn, but found hope, help, and comfort from our services.”
A Bipartisan Wake-Up Call
As summer nears—historically a peak season for youth exploitation—child protection organizations continue to plead for restored support. Joe Griffin, a Chicago-based outreach worker, said: “To do this ahead of summer, when we know there will likely be an uptick in violence, is really troubling. We need our government to show up for our young people the way we do—every day, without fail.”
Restoring and safeguarding these resources will require urgent bipartisan action, advocates warn, to ensure the nation’s youngest and most vulnerable are not left behind in political crossfire.
