Revealed: Trump administration retreats on combating human trafficking and child exploitation

Experts say decades of progress are under threat; Trump officials say administration remains committed to fighting trafficking and sex abuse

The Trump administration has aggressively rolled back efforts across the federal government to combat human trafficking, a Guardian investigation has found.

The sweeping retreat threatens to negate decades of progress in the drive to prevent sexual slavery, forced labor and child sexual exploitation, according to legal experts, former government officials and anti-trafficking advocates. They say the administration’s moves are impeding efforts to prosecute perpetrators and protect survivors in the United States and around the world.