Human trafficking, a pervasive and insidious crime, poses a profound and escalating threat to the national security of the United States. As we look forward in 2025, this illicit activity not only undermines law and order, but also impacts economic stability, threatens public health, and erodes the very fabric of social institutions. Previously, both nonprofit organizations and government bodies estimated the global revenue from human trafficking at around $150 billion annually. However, a recent 2024 report from Nasdaq revealed that human trafficking generated an astonishing $346.7 billion in illicit cash flow in 2023, indicating that despite efforts to combat this crime, we have barely scratched the surface. Understanding the multifaceted dimensions of human trafficking’s impact on national security is imperative for shaping effective countermeasures.
