A new report from Human Rights Watch warns the United States is undermining LGBTQ+ and broader human rights worldwide, calling the second Trump administration a period of “blatant disregard for human rights and egregious violations.” The findings come from World Report 2026, which reviews global human rights conditions throughout 2025.
In the report’s introduction, Philippe Bolopion states, The global human rights system is in peril, adding that pressure from the US, alongside China and Russia, is crushing the rules-based international order. He writes that 2025 may be seen as a tipping point. Bolopion details what he calls a sweeping assault on US democracy, citing attacks on judicial independence, voting norms, healthcare access, women’s rights, free speech, and protections for trans and intersex people.
The report says queer people, especially transgender communities, have faced intensified targeting. It notes executive orders declaring there are only two sexes, banning trans military service, restricting gender-affirming care for youth, and barring trans women and girls from female sports. Human Rights Watch also highlights state-level actions, warning that bans on care, school restrictions, and the absence of comprehensive federal protections continue to harm LGBTQ+ Americans—while weakening US credibility on human rights worldwide.
