The United States was added to the CIVICUS Monitor Watchlist on Sunday, a global research tool that tracks the status of freedoms and threats to civil liberties worldwide.
CIVICUS, a global alliance of civil society organizations that includes Amnesty International, cited President Donald Trump’s “assault on democratic norms and global cooperation” as a key reason for the U.S. being placed on the watchlist. In a press release, the organization highlighted the Administration’s decision to cut over 90% of its foreign aid contracts, as well as its executive actions against diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, which Trump described as “illegal and immoral discrimination programs.”
“The Trump Administration seems hellbent on dismantling the system of checks and balances which are the pillars of a democratic society,” said Mandeep Tiwana, Interim Co-Secretary General of CIVICUS. He added, “Restrictive Executive Orders, unjustifiable institutional cutbacks, and intimidation tactics through threatening pronouncements by senior officials in the Administration are creating an atmosphere to chill democratic dissent, a cherished American ideal.”
Other nations currently on the watchlist include the Democratic Republic of Congo, Italy, Pakistan, and Serbia.
CIVICUS’ Civic Space Rankings
CIVICUS assesses civil liberties in countries through five categories: open, narrowed, obstructed, repressed, and closed. “Open” is the highest classification, indicating that people can freely exercise their civil liberties, while “closed” is the lowest ranking, where severe restrictions on freedoms exist.
The organization defines a decline in “open civic space” as instances where “repressive legislation curtails free speech and dialogue, obstacles to civil society activities and operations arise, and crackdowns on civil disobedience and peaceful demonstrations occur.”
According to CIVICUS, the U.S. falls under the “narrowed” category, meaning that while most citizens can exercise their rights to free speech, assembly, and expression, there are instances where the government attempts to curb these freedoms.
Crackdowns on Protests and Government Response
CIVICUS pointed to the Biden Administration’s response to pro-Palestinian protests as an example of how civil liberties in the U.S. are being challenged. Advocates took to the streets and staged encampments on college campuses to protest American military assistance and funding to Israel. Students involved in these demonstrations demanded that their universities divest from companies with ties to Israel.
“We urge the United States to uphold the rule of law and respect constitutional and international human rights norms,” Tiwana stated. “Americans across the political spectrum are appalled by the undemocratic actions of the current Administration.”
The White House has rejected CIVICUS’ characterization of the U.S. as a “narrowed” civic space. Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly dismissed the report, stating in an email on Tuesday, “This is nonsense: President Trump is leading the most transparent administration in history.”
Concerns About Press Freedom
CIVICUS’ “narrowed” label also reflects concerns about press freedom in the U.S. While a free press exists, the organization noted that regulatory policies and political pressure on media ownership could pose restrictions.
The issue of media independence has been widely debated following recent editorial decisions by major media organizations and regulatory actions. In February, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) launched an investigation into NPR and PBS over concerns that the organizations had violated federal law by airing commercials—an allegation both newsroom CEOs denied. The FCC chair also expressed opposition to public funding for these media outlets.
That same month, Jeff Bezos, the CEO of Amazon and owner of The Washington Post, directed the newspaper to shift the focus of its opinion pages. Bezos told his editorial team that they would be writing “in support and defense of two pillars: personal liberties and free markets.” He added, “We’ll cover other topics too of course, but viewpoints opposing those pillars will be left to be published by others.”
White House Press Access and Media Lawsuit
The White House’s handling of the press has also drawn criticism. In February, the administration announced that it would be selecting the reporters who participate in the press pool. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the decision, stating that it was about “restoring power back to the American people, who President Trump was elected to serve.” However, the move was met with backlash from journalism advocates.
“This move tears at the independence of a free press in the United States,” the White House Correspondents’ Association said in a statement on February 25. “It suggests the government will choose the journalists who cover the president. In a free country, leaders must not be able to choose their own press corps.”
Adding to the concerns over media freedom, the Associated Press has filed a lawsuit against three Trump Administration officials, including Leavitt. The lawsuit claims the news organization was barred from White House press briefings after it refused to comply with an Executive Order signed by Trump in January. The order required media outlets to refer to the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America,” a rebranding the AP declined to adopt.
Broader Implications
The addition of the United States to the CIVICUS Monitor Watchlist raises broader concerns about the state of democracy and civil liberties in the country. The organization’s assessment suggests that while the U.S. remains a functioning democracy, increasing governmental actions are raising alarms about the erosion of fundamental rights.
As political and legal battles over civil liberties continue to unfold, the U.S. remains under scrutiny from international organizations monitoring the state of democracy and press freedom worldwide.