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Annual Statewide Iowa Trafficking Statistical Chart

The information presented in the annual statewide Iowa trafficking statistical chart was collected by the following NAHT Board members Teresa Davidson, Tom Barr, and John Chesser. The chart itself was compiled and formatted by NAHT Board member Dr. George Belitsos and NAHT Technology Consultant Waad Abdella.

President Trump Finally Nominates a Candidate to Fill Vacant Director of the U.S. Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee held a congressional hearing on ambassadorial nominations on June 25 to examine Barbara Thornhill’s nomination as Director of the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons. Her nomination comes after the Trump administration laid off 70 percent of the office’s staff, leaving fewer than three dozen employees. The hearing exposed tension between the administration’s stated commitment to fighting human trafficking and its dramatic cuts to the office responsible for that mission.

The Thornhill nomination carries particular weight given recent developments at the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons. The office has operated without a Senate-confirmed ambassador-at-large director since the administration’s start. The position is Senate-confirmed and carries broad international mandate under the Trafficking Victims Protection Act.

Thornhill’s nomination was sent to the Senate on May 11 and represents a critical test of whether the administration intends to rebuild the decimated office. Multiple anti-trafficking organizations have questioned the contradiction between the administration’s framing of immigration enforcement as an anti-trafficking tool and its gutting of the specialized office.

Barbara Thornhill is a North Carolina resident and president of Impact Design. She has built a successful career as a business executive, civic leader, and philanthropist in Los Angeles. Much of her philanthropic work has focused on protecting and supporting vulnerable children. She served as Secretary of the Board of the Children’s Institute of Los Angeles and as President of the Colleagues, an organization of women that has raised millions of dollars for more than 25 years to support the institute’s work.

If confirmed as director of the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (TIP), Thornhill would lead U.S. efforts to prevent human trafficking, protect victims, prosecute traffickers, and work with foreign governments to strengthen the global fight against modern slavery.

The Trafficking Office Crisis

The TIP Office staffing cuts have drawn criticism from multiple quarters. Rep. Sarah McBride (D-DE) called the administration’s decision to gut the office “reckless and inexcusable.” Human Trafficking Search noted that the future of the TIP report itself is in peril, as is the office that produces it.

Thornhill’s confirmation is critical for the office’s future. She must reassure skeptical Democrats who view her nomination as window-dressing after the TIP Office was hollowed out. Committee Chair Jim Risch has a documented, long-standing interest in human trafficking and previously criticized the Biden administration for not making combating trafficking a high enough priority. Risch’s support may be essential for moving the nomination forward.

For the administration, Thornhill’s confirmation would signal a commitment to rebuilding the office. For the public, her performance could determine whether the office regains capacity to monitor global trafficking trends and coordinate international responses.

Pending Legislation on Trafficking

Two reauthorization bills are pending in the 119th Congress. The Frederick Douglass Trafficking Victims Prevention and Protection Reauthorization Act of 2025 (H.R. 1144) and the International Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2025 (S. 2647) both seek to strengthen the legal framework for anti-trafficking efforts. The Congressional Budget Office estimated that H.R. 1144 would authorize $248 million per year over 2026 through 2029.

What’s Next

The committee must vote on whether to recommend Thornhill and the other nominees to the full Senate. Senate confirmation votes would follow. The pace of these votes will signal whether Senate leadership, led by Senate Majority Leader John Thune, intends to move quickly on the nominations.

The broader question remains whether Thornhill’s confirmation will be followed by resources and staffing decisions that rebuild the office or whether the TIP Office will remain a shell of its former capacity.

Sex Charge Dismissed Against Iowa Professor Charged for Grooming

A former University of Dubuque associate professor, fired from his job shortly before a sex-related criminal charge against him was dismissed, is entitled to collect jobless benefits, a judge has ruled.

Court records show that on March 15,  University of Dubuque Associate Professor of Psychology Nathan Hough was criminally charged with the felony offense of grooming. The next day, the university fired Hough, citing concerns with student safety. Hough had worked at the university since August 2025.

In the criminal case, Manchester police alleged an undercover officer, Joshua McCraney, posed as a 16-year-old boy on the dating app Grindr. McCraney’s dating profile showed his age to be 18, but also used an AI-generated photo so the officer appeared to be around 16 years old.

According to police records, Hough messaged McCraney and asked how old he was, to which the officer replied 16, adding that he hoped that was OK with Hough. According to police, Hough replied, “That is OK,” then stated, “Maybe I should come visit you sometime. Hang out for a bit while your dad is gone. Lol … Even getting naked and seeing what kind of fun we could have?”

When McCraney suggested he might be bad at such activities, Hough allegedly replied “Haha, you will be good! I will coach you through it all,” and then suggested the two engage in sex. According to McCraney’s written report, Hough messaged the officer throughout “the entire day, asking what type of sex I might like to have and how I wanted to have sex.”

To read more about Professor Hough and why the judge dismissed the sex charges, tap here.

NAHT Legislative Survey In Preparation for 2027

The following survey was conducted by Advocacy Strategies to begin to develop priorities for the NAHT 2027 Legislative Agenda. The NAHT is inviting feedback from our newsletter readers with regards to these early survey results.

Survey to Develop 2027 NAHT Policy Agenda

What are the top issues or challenges currently impacting our organization, members, or the people we serve?

    • Invest in survivors through sustainable funding and services.
    • Improve accountability for offenders while strengthening the criminal justice response.
    • Expand prevention through education and public awareness.
    • Build a more coordinated statewide response through stronger partnerships, better data, and legislative leadership.

Are there existing state laws, regulations, or policies creating barriers for our organization or industry?

Need to strengthen Iowa’s legal framework by shifting greater accountability to traffickers and buyers while reducing barriers faced by survivors. Responses emphasize improving prevention through education.

    • Increasing investments in survivor recovery.
    • Modernizing statutes to address emerging forms of exploitation.
    • Ensuring state funding and policies better reflect the needs of survivors and service providers.

What opportunities exist for legislative or regulatory improvements in 2027?

    • Invest in survivors through stable funding and expanded services.
    • Strengthen accountability by modernizing laws and reducing demand.
    • Prevent trafficking through education and standardized professional training.
    • Build statewide capacity with better data, coordinated leadership, and support for local agencies.
    • Update online exploitation laws.
    • Update Expungement laws for all survivors to ensure they can clear their records from things they were forced to do.
    • Standardized training for prosecutors, judges, law enforcement, etc.

What issues do you believe should be the NAHT’s highest legislative priorities next session?

    • Provide sustainable funding for survivor services to ensure victims have access to long-term support and recovery.
    • Reduce demand by strengthening buyer accountability, including tougher penalties and dedicating fines to survivor assistance.
    • Prevent trafficking through mandatory school-based education and broader public awareness efforts.
    • Advance survivor-centered policies that protect victims, remove legal barriers to recovery, and strengthen Iowa’s overall response to human trafficking.

To read more about the NAHT legislative survey, please tap here.

Update From Iowa Businesses Against Trafficking

Courtesy of Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate

The newly formed IBAT advisory group is shown above. Heather Glen, NAHT Board Member, is shown third from the left.

When my office launched Iowa Businesses Against Trafficking (IBAT) four years ago, our goal was simple, equip Iowa’s business community to be part of the solution in the fight against human trafficking. Last month, we reached an important milestone as IBAT welcomed its 1,000th member. But our work is far from finished.

That’s why I’m especially excited to announce the launch of our inaugural IBAT Advisory Group. This dedicated team of business leaders, nonprofit partners, public safety professionals, and community advocates will help guide the future of the program and strengthen our efforts to raise awareness, expand resources, and engage even more Iowans in prevention efforts.

Reaching 1,000 members across 97 Iowa counties is a remarkable achievement. Together, those organizations reach nearly 350,000 Iowa employees, creating countless opportunities to educate, recognize warning signs, and help protect vulnerable individuals. That progress belongs to every business, organization, and community leader who chose to take a stand against human trafficking.

The launch of the Advisory Group marks the next phase for IBAT. Their leadership and expertise will help us build on the momentum we’ve created and ensure that businesses continue to play a meaningful role in making Iowa a more informed, vigilant, and safer state.

Human trafficking remains one of the most pressing challenges facing our communities, and it will take all of us working together to address it. While we’re proud to celebrate this milestone, we know there is more work ahead. With the support of our new Advisory Group and our growing network of IBAT members, we remain committed to expanding this movement and ensuring every Iowa business has the opportunity to learn something and do something in the fight against human trafficking.

 TV News Clips & Articles

By on July 31, 2026   /   News