Trump administration disbands Russian war crimes investigation team

The Trump administration has disbanded several key initiatives aimed at investigating and holding Russia accountable for war crimes committed in Ukraine, including eliminating the position of a congressionally mandated coordinator responsible for gathering intelligence on Russian atrocities. Multiple interagency groups and Justice Department units, including those focused on seizing assets from sanctioned Russian oligarchs and combating Russian influence, have also been dissolved. Critics, such as former officials and lawmakers, argue that these actions represent a significant retreat from the U.S. commitment to upholding international law and accountability for war crimes. The administration has further ended U.S. participation in multinational efforts to pursue justice for Russian actions in Ukraine and paused, then resumed, military and intelligence aid to Ukraine. The White House has also stopped funding certain initiatives documenting Russian crimes, including programs related to the deportation of Ukrainian children. These moves have raised concerns among U.S. allies about the diminishing American role as a global advocate for the rule of law.