New Act Mandates Agencies Track, Report Progress on Child Trafficking Prevention Within 180 Days

This new legislation, the Preventing Child Trafficking Act of 2025, isn't about creating entirely new programs; it’s about making sure the existing ones are actually working and being held accountable. Essentially, this bill locks in a requirement for two key federal agencies—the Department of Justice’s Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) and the Administration for Children and Families’ Office on Trafficking in Persons (OTIP)—to continue implementing specific anti-trafficking strategies.

The GAO Playbook: What They Have to Do

What are these strategies? The bill defines “anti-trafficking recommendations” by pointing directly to a specific Government Accountability Office (GAO) report from December 2023. Think of this GAO report as the expert-vetted blueprint. The Act requires OVC and OTIP to collaborate on developing and implementing strategies for prevention and survivor support, specifically using "leading collaboration practices referenced in GAO24106038." This means the government isn't just throwing money at the problem; they are required to use methods that a federal watchdog has already identified as effective for inter-agency teamwork.

Accountability by the Numbers

The most significant part of this bill for accountability is the mandate for measurable results. The agencies must set performance goals and targets for all child anti-trafficking programs. These goals must be objective, measurable, and quantifiable, and they need to use baseline data from the organizations receiving program grants. This is crucial because it moves the programs past simply tracking how much money they spend and forces them to track what results they achieve. For a survivor support group receiving federal aid, this means they will need to clearly define success metrics—like how many survivors successfully access long-term housing or education—and report on them.

The Clock is Ticking for Congress

If you care about government oversight, this part matters: the Director of the OVC must submit a detailed report to the House and Senate Judiciary Committees no later than 180 days after the law is enacted. This report must explicitly describe all the steps taken to meet the collaboration and goal-setting requirements. This tight deadline ensures that the agencies can’t just put this on the back burner. It forces a rapid implementation plan and gives Congress immediate data to verify compliance.

Overall, this bill is less about new funding and more about tightening up the operational efficiency and accountability of existing programs. It’s a good example of policy that mandates better collaboration and measurable results, which is a win for anyone who wants taxpayer dollars spent effectively on critical issues like child trafficking prevention.