In July 2025, a major shift happened in the global movement to end human trafficking. The U.S. State Department drastically cut the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, also known as the TIP Office. Michael Rigas, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State, cited that too many “single-issue offices” slowed the State Department down.
These cuts were part of the Reduction in Force (RIF), which eliminated over 1,300 State Department jobs. About half of the TIP Office’s full-time staff were let go. Combined with Elon Musk’s “Deferred Resignation Program,” the office now has only about one-third of the staff it had in January. Of the 35 people who remain, most will be reassigned to other roles and see their pay cut.
For 25 years, the TIP Office has led the federal government’s work to address sex and labor trafficking around the world. It publishes an annual Trafficking in Persons Report that grades countries on how they are responding to the issue. Countries that fail to meet standards may face economic consequences. This year’s report was due on June 30—but still hasn’t been released.
The TIP Office doesn’t work alone. It partners with governments, nonprofits, international organizations, businesses, and survivors of human trafficking. It has long been a symbol of the United States’ leadership in standing up for human rights and ending exploitation.
Amanda Finger is the Executive Director and Co-Founder of the Laboratory to Combat Human Trafficking. “The establishment of a dedicated office to address human trafficking was evidence of our commitment to leading a response to human trafficking,” she says. “At LCHT, we look to their reports for trends in the evolution of the crime and its response. We see successes and challenges and profiles of leaders around the world making incredible progress.”
These cuts don’t just affect other countries—they matter here in Colorado, too. LCHT’s work began in 2005, just a few years after the TIP Office was created. For the past 20 years, we’ve worked to improve how Colorado responds to human trafficking. What happens at the federal level shapes the attention, resources, and leadership that allow us to carry out this work at the local level.
Keep reading to learn more about what these cuts mean. You’ll also find out how we can keep moving forward to support our communities.
How the TIP Office helped shape a global movement
The Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons was created during a wave of international progress. In 2000, the UN adopted the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress, and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children. It was the first international agreement to define human trafficking and how countries should respond. Leaders agreed on a definition, how to support survivors, and how to work together to hold traffickers accountable; 185 countries to date have ratified the Protocol.
The same year, the U.S. passed the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA). This became the foundation of the country’s anti-trafficking laws. “The efforts were heralded as a successful outcome,” Amanda remembers. “Many advocates championed the advancement of human rights that they saw in these measures.”
Former LCHT Board Member Gary Grappo served as a U.S. Ambassador to Oman from 2006 to 2009. He recalls, “In 2003, President Bush surprised leaders and diplomats when he addressed the UN about human trafficking. Most attendees knew little to nothing about the problem and its scale around the world.”
A few years later, Congress passed a Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act. It focused more on global action. After that, Ambassador Grappo says, “U.S. embassies began lobbying foreign governments to strengthen their laws or pass new laws to prevent human trafficking, prosecute traffickers, and protect victims.” As a diplomat, Ambassador Grappo recalls early outreach efforts being awkward or even met with anger at times. “But as we listened and worked together, things started to change for the better,” he says.
During his time in Oman, Ambassador Grappo helped push for new anti-trafficking laws. The TIP Office provided guidance to the embassy and Omani government. The result? Oman passed some of the most far-reaching anti-trafficking laws in the region—and began arresting those who violated them.
Every year, embassies prepare a report on the status of human trafficking in their respective countries. They are compiled into the TIP Report. “This report became the global standard by which countries evaluated human trafficking and efforts to combat it,” says Ambassador Grappo.
But the TIP Office isn’t just about policy or diplomacy. It also engages survivors through the Survivor Advisory Council, including friend of LCHT Jose Alfaro. Survivors helped shape national and international policies, making programs stronger and more informed.
Why federal cuts hit close to home
You might be wondering how cuts to a federal office in D.C. could affect anti-trafficking in Colorado. But the local impact is significant. Amanda explains, “While LCHT’s work is focused on Colorado, the global and national context matters.”
Ambassador Grappo adds, “Coloradans, and indeed all Americans, should be very concerned with these recent cuts. They will lead to greater problems with human trafficking in our state and around the country. Traffickers will encounter less resistance and seek to exploit the most vulnerable.”
Craig Nason, LCHT’s Development and Communications Director, agrees. “When national priorities shift and fewer resources are devoted to human trafficking, the pressure intensifies on community-based organizations like LCHT,” he says. “The closure of a federal office doesn’t change the reality that sex and labor trafficking still exist here in Colorado—and we will continue to respond. But our local response is already stretched thin—and we can’t meet the growing need alone.”
Craig remembers when he first began working in this field almost ten years ago. As he learned about the national response to human trafficking, he was encouraged to see relatively young institutions like the TIP Office. It showed the U.S.’s organization around its commitment to emerging human rights issues. The TIP Office was leading the way in reporting, victim assistance, technical projects, and critical funding.
“These cuts don’t just sunset programs,” Craig says. “They send a message to survivors, advocates, and governments worldwide that combating human trafficking—and collaborating to strengthen human rights—is no longer the same priority for the United States.”
Ambassador Grappo shares that concern. For decades, the U.S. has been a global leader on human rights. Survivors and governments around the world looked to us for support. “This represented the very best of American values,” Ambassador Grappo says. “These cuts not only weaken our efforts but also signal to America’s friends and allies around the world that we no longer care about these issues.”
How a locally led response can still drive progress
As the national response to trafficking weakens, it’s up to organizations like LCHT and community members to step in and keep the work going. “We’re calling for continued attention to this issue in Colorado communities,” Craig says.
Across the country, nonprofits, government agencies, and grassroots groups are working together. “Collectively, we work in our states to determine where resources can be shared and lessons that can be learned. Our goal is healthy, thriving communities,” Amanda says. “To address the global issue of human trafficking means that we cannot be successful in our missions if we do our work in isolation.”
Amanda has found inspiration in learning from counterparts in the U.S. and around the world through webinars and conferences. This includes the State Department’s International Visitor Leadership Program. This has introduced us to hundreds of individuals working to address human trafficking around the world. “We must not lose this momentum to create transnational learnings and collaborations,” Amanda says.
LCHT began as a grassroots organization, driven by the need for a local response to this national and global issue. That hasn’t changed. LCHT continues to answer calls and texts to the 24/7 Human Trafficking Hotline. We’re still training professionals in frontline positions to recognize the signs of exploitation. We’re still conducting research to inform better policy. We’re still investing in local leaders through our Leadership Development Program. We’re still learning, adapting, leading, and growing.
Craig reflects, “At LCHT, we’ve always believed in a locally led response. With enough support and collaboration from our incredible statewide partners, Colorado can continue to model leadership in the fight against exploitation.” No matter the federal response, our vision of a future without exploitation is here to stay.
Amanda sums up, “While such major cuts are disheartening and dangerous, we can and should absolutely keep a focus on human trafficking response in this state. Ultimately, we must center people and take care of each other.”
What you can do today to take action
Human trafficking is one of the most challenging human rights issues of our time. While human rights leadership at the federal level may be in decline, our local response still matters. Your actions still matter. Here’s how you can help:
- Make a gift to power Colorado’s anti-trafficking response. You’ll sustain 20 years of impact with LCHT and fuel the next 20 years of progress. Every $20 donated can help four survivors access vital support and essential resources.
- Learn more about the realities of human trafficking in our state. Get accurate information about what exploitation is, who experiences it, and where it happens. Plus, find out the truth behind common myths and misconceptions.
- Share what you learn with others in your community. Have conversations with family, colleagues, and friends about exploitation.
- Volunteer with LCHT to field calls and texts on Colorado’s 24/7 Human Trafficking Hotline. As a trained Hotline Advocate, you’ll cover shifts remotely to connect survivors and individuals reporting a tip with the help they need. The next training will be in October.
- Speak up for policies (at the federal, state, and local levels) that protect survivors and hold traffickers accountable. Call your representatives, share your opinion, and advocate for policies that uphold human rights.
Together, we can stay committed to a future where every survivor is supported and this crime is eliminated for good.