Lankford Introduces Bill to Prevent Trafficking in Government Contracts

WASHINGTON, DC – Senator James Lankford (R-OK) introduced the Ensuring Accountability and Dignity in Government Contracting Act of 2025 to close gaps in federal rules that allow human trafficking to persist in government contracting while strengthening agency oversight, accountability, and reporting requirements. Representative David Valadao (R-22) led the introduction of this bill in the House of Representatives. 

“It is unthinkable that taxpayer dollars would fund human and labor trafficking,” said Lankford. “Lax standards and procedures have enabled traffickers to continue their abuse of vulnerable people. This bill puts proactive measures in place to make sure that no taxpayer funds are spent on federal contracts that don’t safeguard against trafficking.”

“The United States has a zero-tolerance policy for human trafficking, yet recent reports make it clear that federal agencies are failing to take meaningful action to prevent trafficking in government contracts,” said Valadao. “I’m proud to introduce this bill which will ensure contractors have anti-trafficking compliance plans in place and guarantee that when violations occur, there are consequences. American taxpayers should never be complicit in human trafficking, and this legislation takes critical steps to prevent that from happening.”

The Ensuring Accountability and Dignity in Government Contracting Act of 2025 would:

• Require contractors to provide anti-trafficking compliance plans for covered contracts to contracting officers.
• Provide federal contracting officials with relevant information they can use when developing plans to oversee contractors’ trafficking prevention efforts, by expanding and strengthening the current contractor certification requirements.
• Require the Inspector General to investigate all credible information about potential human trafficking violations, including when recipients report it and indicate they have taken actions to address it.
• Direct OMB to assess and report on the feasibility of enhancing government anti-trafficking efforts by amending relevant laws for contractor compliance assessments, streamlining reporting processes, and mandating training for contracting personnel.
• Upon receipt of an Inspector General report of alleged noncompliance, suspend grant payments until the contractor has taken appropriate remedial action.

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