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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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October 12last updated

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All Articles on Government Accountability and Ethics

The Senate Filibuster: What It Is and Why It’s Controversial

President Donald Trump wrote his party's leaders in the Senate: "It is now time for the Republicans to play their 'TRUMP CARD,'" he wrote,…

37 Min Read

Will the Justice Department Pay Trump’s $230 Million Claim?

President Donald Trump is asking the U.S. Department of Justice to pay him approximately $230 million for two federal investigations conducted while he was…

12 Min Read

The Trump Administration’s Relationship With the Department of Justice

Trump’s relationship with the Justice Department turns on presidential authority, case decisions, internal safeguards and the limits of outside oversight.

38 Min Read

Is It Normal for a Shutdown to Impact the Opposing Party’s Programs?

Historically, government shutdowns have served as legislative leverage, used by one party or branch to compel the other to agree to a specific policy…

29 Min Read

How Private Companies Turn Public Data Into Billion-Dollar Products

The United States government produces more data than almost any organization on Earth. Taxpayer-funded agencies track employment, monitor hurricanes, and photograph the planet from…

28 Min Read

Federal Programs Eliminated Between January and September 2025

The Trump administration made changes to federal programs, offices, and initiatives between January and September 2025. The changes affected multiple policy areas including health…

50 Min Read

Can Government Oversight Fix Toxic Fumes on Planes?

For nearly three million daily air travelers in the United States, the air inside aircraft cabins represents a life-support system. Pressurized to about 8,000…

32 Min Read

The Legal and Political Risks of Prosecuting James Comey

James Comey’s prosecutions raise questions about evidence, political pressure, prosecutor appointments, public costs and the safeguards courts apply.

26 Min Read

How Attorneys General Have Balanced Politics and Independence Since Watergate

The Attorney General holds one of the most conflicted positions in American government. As a Cabinet member, they serve the President who appointed them.…

30 Min Read

Why Government Data Delays Are Getting Worse

Every month, federal agencies release a flood of statistics that shape decisions from Wall Street to Main Street. The Federal Reserve uses these numbers…

21 Min Read