President's Interagency Task Force To Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons

This executive order establishes the President's Interagency Task Force to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, chaired by the Secretary of State and comprising cabinet-level officials from State, Justice, Labor, HHS, CIA, OMB, and USAID. The Task Force coordinates implementation of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000, prepares annual reports, collects data, promotes international cooperation, and advises the President on policy recommendations, but has no independent directive authority.

Federal Register Open PDF 67 FR 7259

Key directives

Establish interagency Task Force with specified membership
Coordinate implementation of Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000
Measure and evaluate progress in trafficking prevention, protection, prosecution, and role of public corruption
Assist Secretary of State in preparing annual reports per section 110 of the Act
Expand interagency data collection procedures with victim confidentiality protections
Facilitate international cooperation among origin, transit, and destination countries
Examine role of international sex tourism industry
Engage in consultation and advocacy with governmental and nongovernmental organizations
Report to President through Secretary of State on progress and policy recommendations

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

Task Force establishment and membership designation
Department of State assumes funding and administrative support responsibilities

Near term (90d)

Initial coordination meetings at call of Chair
Development of interagency data collection procedures
Preparation for first annual report assistance to Secretary of State

Long term

Ongoing annual report preparation under section 110 of the Act
Sustained international cooperation and capacity-building efforts
Periodic policy recommendations to the President through Secretary of State

Risks & tensions

Task Force has 'no directive authority or other substantial independent authority' (Sec. 3(e)), limiting enforcement power and creating dependency on member agencies' voluntary cooperation
Vague meeting frequency ('as necessary') may impede sustained momentum
Data collection expansion must balance against victim confidentiality protections
Coordination with National Security Council and Homeland Security Council (Sec. 3(d)) creates potential jurisdictional friction, especially post-9/11