Human Trafficking: The President's Interagency Task Force and the Senior Policy Operating Group

The Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (TVPA) authorized the President to establish the President's Interagency Task Force (PITF), a cabinet-level task force to coordinate federal efforts to combat human trafficking. The PITF is chaired by the Secretary of State and meets at least once a year.

In 2003, the Senior Policy Operating Group (SPOG) was created to follow up on President's Interagency Task Force initiatives and to implement U.S. Government anti-trafficking policies and guidelines. It coordinates the implementation of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act and addresses emerging interagency policy, grants, and planning issues. The group is chaired by the Director of the State Department's Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons and meets quarterly. It includes representatives from the Departments of Justice, State, Defense, Education, Labor, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security; USAID; and the Human Smuggling and Trafficking Center.