GAO Highlights: Securing Contracts Saving Lives - Federal Strategies Against Human Trafficking

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Event Date: June 18, 2025
CLPs: 1.0

Event Description: Since 2000, Congress has increased requirements to prevent trafficking in federal contracting, but related trafficking allegations continue, and the U.S. has said it's more pervasive than previously thought.

In 2024, GAO looked at 4 agencies—DOD, State, DHS, and USAID—that spend a lot on contracts or may be at increased risk of using contractors who engage in human trafficking. These agencies have taken some steps to manage trafficking risks in their contracts, but none use a systematic approach that identifies, responds to, and communicates about risks and needed responses. In addition, compliance with anti-trafficking requirements was inconsistent. Nine of the 12 contracts in GAO's review did not meet one or more of the anti-trafficking requirements, such as obtaining a required anti-trafficking certification from contractors.

Report recommendations include agencies (1) taking a systematic approach that identifies, responds to, and communicates about risks and needed responses to ensure the government doesn't fund human trafficking, and (2) reviewing implementation of, and compliance with, federal anti-trafficking requirements in contracts to help assure agencies that contracting officials and contractors are fulfilling their responsibilities to prevent trafficking in federal contracts.

Join us to learn more about GAO’s findings and recommendations.

Speakers:

Leslie Ashton
Senior Analyst, U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO)

Leslie Ashton is a Senior Analyst with the U.S. Government Accountability Office’s (GAO) Contracting and National Security Acquisitions team. In this capacity, she has led multiple GAO teams that conduct non-partisan, fact-based, and objective assessments of agency contracting efforts. Since joining GAO in 2013, Leslie has also served a detail with the Senate Armed Services Committee supporting the acquisition management portfolio.

She recently concluded a job examining multiple agencies’ approaches to managing human trafficking risks in contracting and implementation of federal anti-trafficking requirements. She is currently leading a review of contracting for high-tech medical equipment maintenance by the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Leslie has also led engagements assessing DOD’s use of financial flexibilities to conduct research and development and a data sharing pilot program, among many others.

Bonnie Binggeli
Analyst, U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO)

Bonnie Binggeli is an Analyst with the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO)’s Contracting and National Security Acquisitions team. In this capacity, she has worked on multiple GAO teams and engagements that conduct non-partisan, fact-based, and objective assessments of agency contracting and acquisition efforts.

Since joining GAO in 2021, Bonnie has supported several reports with recommendations related to agency human capital and grant management, and use of financial flexibilities for research and development, amongst other topics. Bonnie also made contributions to review of agencies’ approaches to identify and manage human trafficking risks in contracting. She is currently working on a review of Army battlefield network modernization efforts.

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GAO Highlights: Securing Contracts Saving Lives - Federal Strategies Against Human Trafficking

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