The United States has been added to the Civicus Monitor Watchlist, a list identifying countries experiencing a rapid decline in civic freedoms, according to the international non-profit organization Civicus. The group, which focuses on strengthening citizen action and civil society worldwide, included the U.S. in its first watchlist of 2025, alongside the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Italy, Pakistan, and Serbia.
Civicus operates the Civicus Monitor, a platform that tracks civic freedoms in 198 countries. Previous watchlist entries in recent years include Zimbabwe, Argentina, El Salvador, and the United Arab Emirates. The organization’s co-secretary general, Mandeep Tiwana, stated that the watchlist “looks at countries where we remain concerned about deteriorating civic space conditions, in relation to freedoms of peaceful assembly, association and expression,” according to Civicus.
The decision to place the United States on the watchlist was attributed to concerns regarding the Trump administration’s recent actions. Civicus stated that these actions could “severely impact constitutional freedoms of peaceful assembly, expression, and association.” Specifically, the group cited the mass termination of federal employees, the appointment of Trump loyalists to key government positions, withdrawal from international organizations such as the World Health Organization and the UN Human Rights Council, the freezing of federal and foreign aid, and attempts to dismantle USAID.
Additionally, Civicus pointed to “the administration’s crackdown on pro-Palestinian protesters” and “the unprecedented decision to control media access to presidential briefings,” among other concerns. The group described these actions as “an unparalleled attack on the rule of law” not seen “since the days of McCarthyism in the twentieth century.”
Civicus further warned that “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.”
The Civicus Monitor classifies civic space in countries using five ratings: open, narrowed, obstructed, repressed, and closed. The United States currently has a “narrowed” rating, which it has maintained since the Biden administration. Tiwana noted that during part of former President Trump’s first term, the country had been categorized as “obstructed,” citing responses to the Black Lives Matter protests and restrictive state laws affecting environmental justice activists.
Tiwana stated that “as of Monday, the U.S. has been placed on the watchlist as the group says it sees ‘significant deterioration’ in civic freedoms occurring.” He also noted that the country may again be moving toward an “obstructed” status.
While the Trump administration has stated its support for fundamental freedoms and individual rights, Civicus claims that this support appears “to be wanting to support these only for people who they see as agreeing with them.”
Historically, the United States has been regarded as “the beacon of democracy and defense of fundamental freedoms,” according to Tiwana. However, he warned that recent government actions could “empower authoritarian regimes around the world, undermine constitutional principles, and embolden those who want to accumulate power and increase their wealth and their ability to stay in power for as long as possible.”
Civicus called on the U.S. government to “uphold the rule of law and respect” fundamental democratic norms. The organization’s findings provide an opportunity for reflection on the role of civic freedoms and the responsibilities of a democratic society.
For Catholics, the question of civic engagement and human dignity remains a critical consideration. The Church has long emphasized the importance of participation in public life, protection of human rights, and advocacy for the common good. As the U.S. navigates concerns about civic space, the call to uphold justice, dialogue, and the dignity of all persons remains essential.
