Trump’s State Dept. closed offices and laid off 1,353 employees, mostly in roles that help combat human trafficking, authoritarianism, genocide, violent extremism, and threats to women’s rights.
The bipartisan Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (TIP) was formed 25 years ago to fight against sex trafficking and labor trafficking. One of its many responsibilities is to produce an annual report assessing the scale of human trafficking in various countries throughout the world. This year’s report was due June 30th but never released.
Full-time employees working at TIP have been reduced by about 70% since Trump took office, with most of the reduction caused by today’s job cuts. About 35 employees remain, and many of those were notified that they would soon be reassigned to another office within the State Department.
An official speaking anonymously with Mother Jones said the TIP office is essentially “decimated.”
For more on the State Dept. cuts broadly, click here.
