Press Release

President’s Executive Order on Human Trafficking Puts Contractors on Notice

Statement of Scott Amey, General Counsel, Project On Government Oversight

The executive order that President Obama signed today will expand the scope of current anti-trafficking policies and regulations. The abuses covered under the president’s order are shockingly common throughout the world. Now, however, U.S. prime contractors and subcontractors who participate in human trafficking are on notice.

For example, the order includes specific actions—such as misleading or fraudulent recruiting practices, charging recruiting fees, seizing or destroying employee identification documents, and failing to pay employees' return transportation costs—that do not necessarily entail any threat of harm or physical abuse.

Agencies now must follow the President's lead and bolster their anti-trafficking programs and enforcement. This is something the Project On Government Oversight has demanded in the past.