The U.S. Department of Justice has significantly reduced funding and training resources for law enforcement agencies investigating child sex trafficking cases, marking a sharp policy reversal that has drawn criticism from prosecutors and investigators across the political spectrum.The cuts, implemented shortly after President Donald Trump's inauguration for his second term, include the cancellation of the 2025 National Law Enforcement Training on Child Exploitation conference, scheduled for June in Washington D.C. The annual event provides critical technical training to federal and state prosecutors on investigating online crimes against children.Four prosecutors and law enforcement officers specializing in child sexual exploitation cases, speaking anonymously due to fears of retaliation, warned that the funding reductions are hampering efforts to combat child predators and protect vulnerable minors."We need to justify all travel for training, trial preparation and meeting with victims. We need to justify why it's 'core mission', and the answer is almost always no," said one federal prosecutor specializing in crimes against children.The policy shift represents a significant departure from previous bipartisan support for anti-trafficking initiatives. Under new "austerity" measures, federal prosecutors face increased bureaucratic obstacles when pursuing child exploitation cases, according to sources familiar with the changes.The training conference cancellation has particularly concerned investigators working with the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) taskforce, a national network of 61 law enforcement agencies dedicated to combating online child exploitation. These officers rely on regular training updates to keep pace with evolving technologies, including artificial intelligence applications increasingly used by predators to target children."If your jurisdiction gets hit with one of these cases, what do you do? These conferences teach you. They also provide contacts," explained a state prosecutor. "Not having the conference really hinders our ability to address new challenges as they come in."Beyond training, the cuts have disrupted annual grant payments to ICAC divisions, typically awarded each October. This funding shortage has forced some units to reduce personnel and seek alternative funding sources for essential software, hardware, and investigative tools.The policy changes have also halted regular coordination meetings between the Justice Department, ICAC commanders, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and technology companies—forums that facilitate information sharing on emerging threats and investigative strategies.The broader implications extend beyond operational challenges. Investigators working on child exploitation cases face exceptionally high stress levels and turnover rates due to the traumatic nature of their work. The cancelled conferences traditionally provided crucial peer support networks."This is very isolating work. You can't go home to tell your family what you did during the day," noted a state prosecutor. "When you meet other people at these conferences, they're in the same boat. Building those bonds is essential to us staying in this work long term."The funding cuts have drawn particular scrutiny given Trump's previous campaign promises to prioritize law enforcement and combat human trafficking. Anti-trafficking advocates who praised aspects of his first administration's approach have expressed disappointment with the current direction.The Justice Department did not respond to requests for comment. A department spokesperson previously stated that the agency "can remain focused on two critical priorities at the same time: prosecute criminals who exploit children and ensure the efficient use of taxpayer dollars."The policy shift comes amid broader controversy surrounding the administration's handling of trafficking-related investigations, including criticism over the refusal to release full investigative files related to convicted child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein."Many law enforcement officers felt like this administration would be pro-law enforcement, and that trafficking investigations would be seen as important," said one prosecutor. "This situation is disheartening."Reporting based on investigation by The Guardian.
