Explainer

An Independent Team to Decode Government

GovFacts is a nonpartisan site focused on making government concepts and policies easier to understand — and government programs easier to access.

Our articles are referenced by trusted think tanks and publications including Brookings, CNN, Forbes, Fox News, The Hill, and USA Today.

All Articles on Explainer

Alternatives to SNAP Benefits: Food Assistance Available During the 2025 Government Shutdown

The federal government shutdown reached 39 days in November 2025, making it the longest in U.S. history. The shutdown, which…

Nuclear Testing Returns to Headlines as U.S., Russia, and China Ramp Up Activities

The specter of nuclear testing—a practice most Americans associate with Cold War-era footage of mushroom clouds—has returned to the headlines…

How the Supreme Court Is Evaluating Trump’s Emergency Tariff Powers

On November 5, 2025, the Supreme Court heard what has been called the biggest legal test yet of the Trump…

Why the FAA Ordered a 10% Flight Reduction

On November 5, 2025, the Trump administration announced it was taking the "extraordinary step" of mandating a 10% reduction in…

How Congress Funds the Federal Government

The United States Constitution grants Congress the "power of the purse": "No money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but…

How Federal Reserve Bank Supervisors Protect the U.S. Financial System

While the bank supervision staff of the Federal Reserve rarely makes headlines, their daily efforts are a cornerstone of economic…

Trump Demands End to Senate Filibuster as Government Shutdown Drags On

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

IRS Shares Taxpayer Data with ICE Under Trump Administration Agreement

The Internal Revenue Service and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement have long operated in separate spheres. The IRS collects taxes.…