Pamela Bondi, Human Trafficking, Washington 2026

Feds Pledge to Smash Human Trafficking Rings

WASHINGTON – In a grim reminder of the horrors of human trafficking, Attorney General Pamela Bondi and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem vowed to dismantle the scourge of modern-day slavery in the United States.

Human Trafficking Prevention Month presents an opportunity for the federal government to intensify operational efforts, raise public awareness, and strengthen partnerships across federal, state, and local agencies to disrupt trafficking networks, protect vulnerable individuals, and ensure traffickers are brought to justice.

“This Department of Justice is working tirelessly alongside our partners to dismantle human trafficking networks, help survivors, and protect vulnerable populations from being exploited,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “Under this administration we have seen an increase in human trafficking prosecutions, and during Human Trafficking Prevention Month we reaffirm our commitment to prosecuting traffickers and encourage Americans to report instances of human trafficking in their communities.”

Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem echoed the sentiment, stating, “Through the Homeland Security Task Force, President Trump is taking the fight directly to human trafficking networks and disrupting their modern-day slave trade while seizing their assets and arresting their kingpins and foot soldiers. The American people should not have to live in fear of cartels, gang bangers, and foreign terrorists preying upon the most vulnerable among us.”

The FBI, led by Director Kash Patel, pledged its support to the effort, reiterating its work with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies and national victim-based advocacy groups in joint task forces to protect communities across the country.

In January 2025, President Donald J. Trump signed Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion, which directed the Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security to jointly establish Homeland Security Task Forces (HSTFs) in every state nationwide.

As part of the ongoing efforts, DHS and DOJ are surging resources to fight and raise awareness about human trafficking, including identifying ongoing investigations and prioritizing featured operations across 45 federal locations and 10 state locations with an emphasis on border states.

The federal government is also partnering with AMTRAK and FAMS to increase law enforcement resources and distribute posters with QR codes for reporting human trafficking in all station bathrooms and trains.

Additionally, the administration is running advertisements related to $250 million recovery from Backpage to distribute to victims and additional victim restitution efforts by DOL-OIG.

The federal government is also organizing Human Trafficking seminars and outreach events with DHS Center for Countering Human Trafficking at high schools and colleges to highlight the role of HSTFs in addressing human trafficking.

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