Report Downgrades US Civic Rating to "Obstructed," Citing Trump's Second Term Actions

"Trump has "triggered a wave of measures undermining democratic institutions and civic freedoms," the group said. Federal law enforcement agents attack demonstrators protesting outside of an immigrant processing center with a barrage of tear gas and pepper balls on September 27, 2025 in Broadview, Illinois.Scott Olson / Getty Images A new report from an international organization dedicated to tracking civic freedoms throughout the world has downgraded its rating for the United States, due in large part to policies enacted by the Trump administration."

"The U.S. was previously rated as a "narrowed" society, in terms of civic freedoms. In its new report, Civicus now rates the U.S. as an "obstructed" society. According to its website, an "obstructed" rating means that a country's civic space is heavily contested. The next step down from obstructed is "repressed.""

"Attributes of an obstructed society are mixed when it comes to civic behavior that is allowed or tolerated. Although citizens can organize and peacefully assemble, they are also vulnerable to brutality from law enforcement agencies, "including rubber bullets, tear gas and baton charges," the organization states. The group notes that while there is "some space for non-state media and editorial independence" in an obstructed society, journalists "face the risk of physical attack and criminal defamation charges, which encourage self-censorship.""

An international civic freedoms monitor downgraded the United States from a 'narrowed' to an 'obstructed' civic-space rating following policies enacted during the Trump administration. An obstructed rating indicates a heavily contested civic space where citizens can organize and assemble but face vulnerability to law enforcement brutality including rubber bullets, tear gas, and baton charges. Some non-state media and editorial independence remain, yet journalists face physical attack risks and criminal defamation charges that encourage self-censorship. The downgrade signals growing constraints on freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly and documents measures that undermine democratic institutions and civic freedoms.

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