More than 100 organizations that support victims of human trafficking have lost funding since October, leaving thousands of survivors at risk, a Guardian investigation has found.
Anti-trafficking advocates say the US Department of Justiceâs failure to spend nearly $90m appropriated by Congress is impeding law-enforcement investigations and exposing survivors to homelessness and the risk of deportation, jail time or re-exploitation.
This is the latest in a series of Guardian investigative reports, which in September revealed that the Trump administration had rolled back efforts to combat human trafficking across the federal government. That retreat has far-reaching implications beyond those related to the release of the investigative files related to the late Jeffrey Epstein.
âItâs extremely irresponsible, and maybe even immoral,â said Kristina Rose, who ran the justice departmentâs office for victims of crime under Joe Biden and served as its deputy director during the first Trump administration.
A justice department spokesperson told the Guardian: âThe justice department can remain focused on two critical priorities at the same time: support victims of human trafficking and prosecute criminals who exploit children, and ensure the efficient use of taxpayer dollars.â
The Guardianâs report struck a chord on Capitol Hill, where three US senators expressed outrage. Richard Durbin of Illinois said it fit a pattern by the Trump administration of âdisregarding congressionally appropriated funds intended to target the most heinous crimes and national security threats â including human traffickingâ.
Â
Concerns about an extended conflict, the mounting U.S. death toll and a perceived lack of clarity...
