President Signs Legislation to Clear Records for Human Trafficking Survivors

The Trafficking Survivors Relief Act creates a new legal process specifically for human trafficking victims to ask courts to erase convictions and arrest records for crimes they were forced to commit while being trafficked. This is a big deal for survivors because a criminal record can block them from getting jobs, housing, loans, and public benefits — removing that barrier helps them rebuild their lives after an incredibly traumatic experience.

The appropriations bill funds the Commerce Department, Justice Department, science agencies, Energy Department, water development programs, and Interior Department through September 2026. This means federal workers at these agencies have funding certainty for the rest of the fiscal year, avoiding furloughs or disruptions that come with government shutdowns or continuing resolutions.