The U.S. State Department is under scrutiny for significant revisions to its annual human rights reports, with reports suggesting that the Trump administration has scaled back the criticism of countries known for human rights abuses, particularly allies such as Israel, El Salvador, and Russia. This year’s reports are noted for their glaring omissions, including the removal of references to LGBTQ+ rights violations and a softened stance on extrajudicial killings in politically aligned nations like South Africa and Brazil. Critics, including Human Rights First, have condemned the changes, arguing they represent a troubling trend towards overlooking serious human rights violations in favor of diplomatic relationships.