U.S. Added to Global Human Rights Watchlist Over Erosion of Civil Liberties

CIVICUS cites actions by the Trump administration, including executive overreach and crackdowns on dissent, as drivers of the U.S.'s inclusion on the 2025 list.

The U.S. has been added to CIVICUS's 2025 Monitor Watchlist, joining countries like Pakistan, Serbia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, due to a decline in civic freedoms.
CIVICUS criticized the Trump administration for actions such as mass federal employee firings, restricting media access, and suppressing pro-Palestinian protests.
The organization highlighted the administration’s withdrawal from international bodies like the WHO and UN Human Rights Council, as well as cuts to foreign aid and DEI programs.
The U.S. currently holds a 'narrowed' civic space rating, indicating occasional violations of freedoms, but CIVICUS warns it is trending toward the more restrictive 'obstructed' category.
CIVICUS has called on the U.S. government to uphold democratic norms, protect constitutional freedoms, and end policies undermining checks and balances essential to democracy.