US civic health rating downgraded after year of restrictive Trump actions

"According to the group, an obstructed ranking applies to countries where civic space is heavily contested. Civil society organizations still exist but state authorities undermine them including through illegal surveillance, bureaucratic harassment and demeaning public statements. Citizens can organise and assemble peacefully but they are vulnerable to frequent use of excessive force by law enforcement agencies, including rubber bullets, tear gas and baton charges, the rating description said."

"It added in regards to media: There is some space for non-state media and editorial independence, but journalists face the risk of physical attack and criminal defamation charges, which encourage self-censorship. The report cited militarized crackdowns on protests in the US, pointing to Donald Trump's deployment of the national guard to Los Angeles and other cities, as well as the widespread use of ICE agents across gatherings and immigrant communities."

Civicus placed the United States in its obstructed civic space category after noting a sharp deterioration of fundamental freedoms following sweeping executive actions, restrictive laws and aggressive crackdowns on dissent. An obstructed classification means civic space is heavily contested: civil society organizations still operate but face illegal surveillance, bureaucratic harassment and demeaning public statements from authorities. Citizens can organise and assemble but are vulnerable to frequent excessive use of force by law enforcement. Media retain some non-state space, yet journalists face physical attack and criminal defamation risks that encourage self-censorship. Militarized responses to protests and rising campus restrictions on Palestinian solidarity activism were highlighted.

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