Trump promised a sex-trafficking crackdown, his Justice Department hasn’t delivered

The Trump administration has repeatedly claimed combating sex trafficking is a top priority, but investigations have stalled and prosecutions have declined in the past six months, according to Reuters interviews with former prosecutors, current agents, and victims' advocates. Staffing shortages, funding cuts, immigration enforcement, and growing distrust among victims have contributed to the issue, Reuters reports.

Former federal prosecutor Jacqueline Kelly, who led the prosecution of rapper Sean "Diddy" Combs for sex trafficking, said the administration cannot claim a priority and then fail to provide resources. DOJ charges for sex trafficking and related crimes have dropped to the slowest pace since 2010, with 73 people charged through June, about 22% lower than the number charged during the first half of the past three years.

The DOJ charged 1,230 people for child pornography violations through June, 3% less than average, and 318 people with violating the Mann Act, 18% less than average. These drops reflect a broader shift in federal law enforcement priorities under President Trump, who has cut agency budgets and focused on deportations.