Assistant Secretary Barnes on Human Rights, Democracy, and Labor in US Foreign Policy

Secretary Marco Rubio is focused on integrating human rights within broader national interests, often emphasizing “freedom” and “liberty” over traditional, institutionalized human rights definitions. In 2025, reflecting the Trump administration’s new policies, the State Department reorganized the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor.

What lies behind the administration’s approach to human rights, what exactly does current policy consist of, and how do those policies align more closely with United States national interests and constitutional principles? 

Join Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor Riley M. Barnes and Senior Fellow Matthew Boyse for a discussion of the administration’s priorities and policies covering human rights, democracy, and labor.