The Constitution requires each branch of government to check and balance the others and to obey the law. But after decades of erosion, the democratic norms and institutions meant to curtail corruption and wrongdoing, and mismanagement are in need of support and defense. In an environment of hyper-partisanship, declining public trust in government, and expanding presidential powers, it is critical that Congress reassert itself by conducting meaningful oversight of the executive branch, and that civil society organizations are fully equipped to defend the rule of law.

The special project on Government Accountability and Oversight pursues a practical, nonpartisan approach to strengthen the norms, institutions, and oversight tools that hold our government accountable to the American people. We support organizations that:

• Engage in strategic litigation to defend the rule of law
• Train congressional staff on effective, bipartisan oversight of the executive branch
• Prepare for and respond to constitutional crises by conducting research, consulting cross-partisan experts, and bringing new voices to the debate
• Provide independent fact-checking, enhance transparency of government, and expose lobbying by foreign powers
• Protect the rights and safety of whistleblowers and promote their revelations
• Investigate and enforce rules on ethics violations, conflicts of interest, and other forms of government corruption and wrongdoing
• Build capacity of government entities, such as Inspectors General, charged with informing and monitoring government

Our investments engage bipartisan coalitions to defend the rule of law when it is under threat while developing systemic reforms for the future.