New Anti-Trafficking Bill Mandates Measurable Goals and Congressional Reporting Within 180 Days

The Preventing Child Trafficking Act of 2025 is essentially a government accountability check designed to ensure federal agencies are serious and effective in combating child trafficking and supporting survivors. Think of it as Congress telling two key agencies, “Show us the numbers, and make them count.”

The core of this section (Sec. 3) mandates that the Department of Justice’s Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) and the Administration for Children and Families’ Office on Trafficking in Persons (OTIP) must continue running their anti-trafficking programs. Crucially, they aren't just told to keep doing what they’re doing; they must specifically follow the collaboration advice laid out in a December 2023 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report. If you see the term “Anti-Trafficking Recommendations” in the bill, it’s a direct reference to that specific GAO report, which means the policy direction is being set by non-partisan, expert recommendations rather than political whim.

Putting the Feds on a Performance Plan

This bill doesn't allow for vague promises. The agencies must establish performance goals for these programs that are objective, measurable, and quantifiable. This is the part that matters most to the average taxpayer. If a program is supposed to help 100 survivors find stable housing, the agency must now set a clear, public goal (e.g., “90% of all eligible survivors will be placed in stable housing within 12 months”) and report on whether they hit it. This shifts the focus from simply spending money to proving the money is actually working on the ground.

For those working in social services or law enforcement, this means the federal funding and support you rely on should now come with clearer metrics and potentially better coordination, as the agencies are forced to collaborate using the GAO's "best collaboration methods." If you're a parent or citizen concerned about these issues, this provision creates a paper trail and clear targets you can use to hold your representatives accountable.

The 180-Day Clock Starts Now

To ensure this isn't just a paper mandate, the bill sets a tight deadline: within 180 days of the law taking effect, the Director of the OVC must report to the Judiciary Committees in both the House and the Senate. This report must detail exactly what steps the agencies have taken to establish those measurable goals and implement the GAO recommendations. This quick reporting requirement is designed to prevent bureaucratic foot-dragging, forcing the agencies to prioritize these changes immediately. It's a procedural win for oversight, ensuring that the federal government is using evidence-based practices and transparent metrics to fight a complex problem.