WASHINGTON – Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) is shining a light on the Polaris Project, which has received millions in taxpayer dollars from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to solely operate HHS’s National Human Trafficking Hotline for nearly 18 years.
In a letter to HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Grassley cites legally protected whistleblower disclosures revealing the Polaris Project failed to report several instances of human trafficking – including child sex trafficking – to law enforcement. Grassley also highlights Polaris’ potential conflict of interest, noting Polaris’ co-founder currently oversees the HHS office responsible for awarding the National Human Trafficking Hotline contract.
“As you are aware, Polaris has received millions in taxpayer dollars to run this hotline, and if the grant is renewed, will receive an additional $9 million in funding. It’s imperative that HHS ensure the hotline is running efficiently and effectively to protect the countless victims of human trafficking,” Grassley wrote.
“These alleged failures by Polaris to report instances of human trafficking are deeply concerning and, if they are accurate, changes to the operation of the NHTH must be made,” Grassley concluded.
Forty-one Attorneys General raised additional concerns in an April letter to Kennedy regarding the Polaris Project’s operation of the National Human Trafficking Hotline.
Read Grassley’s full letter:
https://www.grassley.senate.gov/download/grassley-to-hhs_-national-human-trafficking-hotline