Frederick Douglass Trafficking Victims Prevention and Protection Reauthorization Act of 2025

This bill renews and updates U.S. efforts to fight human trafficking. It extends anti-trafficking programs through 2025–2029 and continues competitive grants to combat modern slavery, with program reports due in 2025 and 2029. It tightens how the State Department ranks countries by updating the Tier 2 Watch List, requiring a yearly list of countries that need special scrutiny when victim numbers are high or rising and actions are weak. The annual Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report must also include information on trafficking for organ removal, and a printed copy of the report must be available to the public. The bill cuts duplicate reporting in related trade law and clarifies that the anti-trafficking office’s director reports to the Secretary of State.

On foreign aid, the bill requires disaster assistance to be planned so it doesn’t create conditions that increase trafficking risk, and to build in protections for vulnerable people during disasters. It also clarifies that, when a country fails to meet minimum standards, the U.S. will withhold nonhumanitarian, nontrade aid to that country’s central government and block funds for its officials’ exchange programs until it improves. The bill defines what aid is excluded from these cuts (like health, food, refugee, emergency, and anti-trafficking aid through NGOs and international groups) and allows limited exceptions when clearly in the U.S. interest, while keeping strong pressure to combat trafficking. Of the authorized funds, up to $37.5 million per year can be used for programs to end modern slavery. Some changes start with the next TIP Report cycle after the bill becomes law.

Key points

• Who is affected: Survivors and people at risk of trafficking; U.S. agencies (especially State Department); NGOs; foreign governments; communities receiving disaster aid.
• What changes: Stronger country rankings and oversight; new TIP Report content on organ harvesting; printed TIP Report; trimmed duplicate reporting; clearer rules on when foreign aid is withheld, with humanitarian exceptions; continued, competitive grants against modern slavery, including up to $37.5M/year.
• When: Funding and programs run 2025–2029; certain reports due in 2025 and 2029; some updates take effect with the next TIP Report cycle after enactment.