The US Department of State has released a long-delayed report on global human trafficking, following a Guardian investigation and bipartisan congressional pressure. The 2025 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report, covering the US and over 185 countries, was initially scheduled for a June event with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, but that event was cancelled and the relevant office saw staff cuts of over 70%.
The US Trafficking Victims Protection Act requires the report to be submitted to Congress by 30 June each year. The delay raised fears among anti-trafficking advocates that the document had been permanently shelved. The report was published quietly on Monday without the customary introduction from the secretary of state or the ambassador for monitoring human trafficking, a position unfilled by President Donald Trump.
The Guardian reported that the Trump administration has rolled back anti-trafficking efforts across the federal government, which White House officials denied as 'nonsense'. Representative Sarah McBride, a Democrat from Delaware, expressed relief and frustration, stating the report should never have been delayed. She plans to scrutinise it closely.
Current and former state department officials told the Guardian that, unlike the annual human rights report, the TIP report largely reflects an honest assessment of anti-trafficking work abroad. However, a section on LGBTQ+ victims, drafted with two trafficking survivors, was terminated due to Trump's executive order banning diversity, equity, and inclusion references. The term 'LGBTQ' does not appear in the 2025 report.
A state department spokesperson said human trafficking affects all people regardless of background, and the US has made strides in ending forced labour in Cuba and imposing sanctions on entities running online scam centres. Secretary Rubio stated the agency is reorienting foreign assistance to align with US interests. The report names Cambodia a 'state sponsor' of trafficking for the first time, alleging senior officials profit from the practice.
