Overview

• Leaked drafts downplay or omit abuses in El Salvador, Israel and Russia, including reports of gender-based violence, judicial threats and anti-LGBTQ+ persecution.
• The State Department’s Democracy, Human Rights and Labor bureau has undergone deep staffing cuts and office eliminations during the agency’s reorganization.
• Originally scheduled for spring release, the 2024 report has been delayed and is still being finalized for submission to Congress in the near future.
• A senior department official says the restructuring removes redundancies, increases readability and zeroes in on statutory ‘core issues.’
• Critics contend the narrowed scope aligns with President Trump’s political negotiations and risks undermining U.S. credibility on global rights advocacy.