Government Accountability and Ethics
Government accountability and ethics is about keeping public officials honest, answerable, and open to the people they serve. It covers the rules against corruption and conflicts of interest, the money that flows into politics, the watchdogs that investigate wrongdoing, and the tools citizens use to see what government does. It also covers how well government performs and whether the public trusts it.
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All Articles on Government Accountability and Ethics
The Espionage Act Is 107 Years Old. Here’s How It’s Used Today.
FBI agents arrived at Hannah Natanson's home early on a Wednesday morning in January 2026. They had a search warrant. Within hours, they'd seized…
Can Journalists Be Prosecuted for Publishing Classified Information?
On a Wednesday morning in January 2026, FBI agents knocked on the door of a Washington Post reporter's home in Virginia. They presented a…
How DOJ Maintains Prosecutorial Independence—and When That Breaks Down
On January 11, 2026, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell did something federal officials almost never do: he went public about a criminal investigation targeting…
Independent Oversight Boards: Who Watches the Watchmen
In American democracy, the legitimacy of government rests on accountability. From federal agencies in Washington to local police departments, the exercise of power requires…
The Government’s Advisors: How Committees Shape American Policy
In the popular imagination, the United States government consists of three branches: Legislative, Executive, and Judicial. Yet operating within this constitutional framework is a…
How January 6 Case Records Disappeared From Public View
On January 20, 2025, just hours after taking office for his second term, Donald Trump signed a proclamation pardoning more than 1,500 people convicted…
Why the GAO Leadership Search Matters for Government Accountability
Gene Dodaro retired on December 29, 2025. Now Congress must select his replacement, and this hiring decision will shape how thoroughly Congress investigates waste,…
The $2 Billion Year: Trump’s Business Profits During His Presidency in 2025
The period from 2017 to 2021 included a publicly stated, if contested, attempt to separate the President's private business interests from his official duties.…
Why the Pentagon Can Withhold Video of Military Strikes From the Public
A new refusal to release footage from the September 2 boat strike, articulated by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth under the banner of "longstanding…
Big Tech’s Push to Stop States From Regulating AI
As generative AI affects every sector of the economy, from healthcare diagnostics to creative industries, the legal frameworks governing these technologies are in a…