United StatesOwnership & classification
Founded: 2007
Ownership
ProPublica is an independent, nonprofit newsroom founded in 2007 by veteran editor Paul Steiger together with Herbert and Marion Sandler, the former chief executives of Golden West Financial. It is incorporated as a 501(c)(3) and governed by its own board of directors; Herb Sandler served as founding board chairman until 2016. No corporation, party or government controls it.
Funding
ProPublica is financed almost entirely by philanthropy. Initial seed funding came from the Sandler Foundation (around $10 million a year at the outset), and it has since diversified to major foundations such as the MacArthur, Ford and Knight foundations, large individual gifts (including a $10 million donation from MacKenzie Scott in 2020), small reader donations and modest earned revenue from co-publishing. It discloses donors who give more than $50,000.
Affiliation & stance
ProPublica has no party, state or commercial-owner control; it is a donor-funded nonprofit investigative outlet. Because its governance and funding are independent of any government or political organization, it is classified INDEPENDENT, with an investigative, CENTER_LEFT editorial profile.
Editorial lean
- Our estimate
- Lean Progressive
- Measured from coverage
- Lean Progressivebased on 36
72/100
Factual
69/100
Objective
36
Articles
36
reports
Factual: How accurately its articles report the facts, judged against primary sources and the cross-outlet consensus. Only articles that cite their sources are counted.
Objective: How neutral the writing is — whether reporting keeps the writer’s own preferences and opinions out of the article.
Recent coverage
Across the country, Kennedy touts MAHA, but not vaccines
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., aligned with President Trump, promoted the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) initiative while avoiding direct discussion of vaccine policies during recent campaign events in Iowa. Despite signing an executive order to reduce childhood vaccines, Kennedy did not prioritize vaccination issues in his public appearances, focusing instead on topics like nutrition, youth fitness, and addiction prevention. During a stop in Iowa, he acknowledged the measles epidemic only when directly questioned, attributing lower vaccination rates to decreased trust in the public health system caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The White House emphasized Kennedy's role in advancing MAHA goals, highlighting efforts such as revising dietary guidelines and improving food safety. However, his approach reflects broader challenges within the administration, as MAHA supporters may not fully align with Trump's political base.
Senator asks US government watchdog to review how feds use hacking tools
Senator Ron Wyden, a Democrat, has asked the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) to investigate how federal law enforcement agencies use hacking tools and spyware against Americans. In a letter obtained by TechCrunch, Wyden highlights concerns about the lack of transparency surrounding the frequency and justification for deploying such tools. He points out that unlike wiretaps, which are subject to public reporting requirements, there are no published annual reports detailing the use of hacking operations. Wyden also notes that the Department of Justice and FBI have historically ignored congressional demands for greater transparency. His request includes evaluating potential abuses of these tools, assessing security protocols for storing and handling them, and examining how agencies seek court approval for their use. Wyden cites past cases, including the FBI's use of spyware in a 1999 investigation involving encrypted files linked to organized crime, to illustrate the historical context of such practices.
Missouri Republicans Are Trying to Repeal Abortion Rights by Leaning Into Anti-Trans Sentiment
Missouri Republicans are attempting to repeal the 2024 voter-approved Amendment 3, which enshrined abortion rights in the state constitution, by linking it to anti-transgender care provisions for minors. This strategy mirrors past efforts where the GOP tried to block similar initiatives by spreading misinformation, such as falsely claiming that the original amendment would allow gender transition surgeries for minors. Despite these tactics, voters approved Amendment 3 in 2024, overturning a near-total abortion ban. Now, Republicans have introduced a new Amendment 3 on the November ballot, which would reinstate the abortion ban with limited exceptions while banning gender transition care for minors. Critics argue this approach uses divisive issues to sway voters and undermine the previous decision.
This Coach Is Banned From Working With Kids. Why Is He Still Coaching?
Texas girls' volleyball coach Ryan Richardson was permanently banned from coaching due to allegations of sexual misconduct involving minors. Despite this ban, he continued to interact with children through various sports organizations. The incident came to light after complaints about Richardson's social media posts, including a provocative selfie, led to his suspension by Lone Star Region Volleyball. The case was escalated to USA Volleyball, the sport's governing body. Richardson had coached for over 15 years and was seen as a crucial figure for many young athletes in the Rio Grande Valley, particularly those from low-income backgrounds seeking college scholarships. However, despite being banned, he remained involved in coaching activities.
What Parents Need to Know About Sexual Abuse in Youth Sports
This article discusses the challenges faced by parents trying to protect their children from sexual abuse in youth sports, focusing on the role of the U.S. Center for SafeSport. The organization is responsible for investigating abuse allegations across Olympic-level and recreational sports, but it faces criticism for being underfunded and understaffed. Parents often lack clear guidance on how to navigate the system or ensure their children's safety. While SafeSport maintains a public database of suspended or banned coaches, its effectiveness is questioned due to limited resources and incomplete coverage of all youth sports programs. The article highlights gaps in protection for many young athletes outside the jurisdiction of the 50 national sports governing bodies.
Senators Criticize Trump Administration’s Demands to Access Health Data as a Condition for Lifesaving Aid
Eight Democratic U.S. senators, including Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, have criticized the Trump administration for requiring access to the health data of millions of people in other countries as a condition for providing lifesaving aid. The senators, including Raphael Warnock of Georgia, wrote a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressing concerns that these demands contradict U.S. policies protecting citizen data privacy. The letter references a ProPublica investigation revealing that agreements with African nations, such as Uganda, allow U.S. officials and contractors direct access to local health data systems. Critics argue these arrangements pose significant risks of misuse, exposure, or commercialization of personal data without consent. The senators requested a detailed briefing and answers to over a dozen questions regarding the transparency, legality, and potential consequences of these data-sharing practices.
Do You Know About U.S. Military Spending? Help ProPublica Understand Where the Money Goes.
ProPublica is investigating U.S. military budgeting, spending, and contracting practices, seeking input from individuals familiar with the defense industry, the Pentagon, and the armed services. The investigation aims to uncover how taxpayer funds are being used, particularly amid reports of frequent delays, cost overruns, and performance issues in military projects. Retired Army Major General John Ferrari has criticized the lack of transparency in how defense spending is managed, comparing it to a 'Rubik’s Cube' that is difficult to track. With Congress currently considering a proposed $1.5 trillion defense budget, ProPublica wants to hear from insiders about whether current spending aligns with national security goals and effective use of resources. The organization is accepting tips through encrypted channels such as Signal and SecureDrop.
The $1 Trillion Black Box
This article examines the opacity and complexity of the U.S. Department of Defense's budget, highlighting the lack of transparency in how taxpayer funds are allocated. It cites figures showing that $1 trillion was appropriated for defense in 2026, surpassing combined spending on health, veterans, education, and other critical programs. The article notes that the Pentagon has never passed a comprehensive financial audit and criticizes the frequent delays, cost overruns, and obsolescence of military projects. Specific examples include the F-35 fighter jet program, which is projected to exceed $2 trillion in costs, and the cancellation of the GPS NextGen program. The piece underscores the challenges faced by watchdogs and journalists in tracking where the money goes, calling the budget process a 'black box.'
At “Quasi-Public” Private Schools, 100% of Students Get Tuition Vouchers. There’s Almost No Accountability.
ProPublica's investigation reveals the existence of '100% schools' in Wisconsin, private institutions fully funded by tuition vouchers from public funds, with minimal accountability. These schools educate over 7,900 students annually, receiving nearly $87 million in voucher money. One example, Atlas Preparatory Academy in Milwaukee, received over $4.3 million for 357 students while facing low test scores and declining enrollment. The school's board chair earned over $150,000 and had financial ties to an accounting firm that received payments from the school. Experts note that these schools lack the transparency and governance standards typical of public schools, including requirements to serve children with disabilities. Despite growing numbers, there remains no clear regulatory framework distinguishing these voucher-funded private schools from public schools.
How Trump’s Unprecedented Effort to Prosecute Noncitizen Voters Fell Apart
ProPublica reports on the failure of President Donald Trump's unprecedented effort to prosecute noncitizen voters. Despite deploying Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) to identify potential cases, the initiative faced significant challenges. Internal warnings highlighted that HSI's technology would generate an 'ungodly' number of false positives, raising privacy concerns. DOJ leaders disregarded these concerns when transferring voter data to HSI for criminal investigations. Despite intense White House pressure, the effort yielded only a handful of prosecutions and even fewer convictions. The article cites specific examples, such as Minnesota's U.S. Attorney Joe Teirab, who criticized the disorganization and dysfunction of the HSI task force. The administration's claim that over 250,000 noncitizens were found on voter rolls in Democratic-led states lacks transparency in methodology.
Wall Street’s Nonprofits Use Selective, Opaque Logic to Defund Charities
This article investigates how Wall Street-affiliated donor-advised fund (DAF) sponsors, Vanguard Charitable, Fidelity Charitable, and DAFgiving360, are using opaque criteria to restrict funding to certain charities, including the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC). Following the Justice Department's controversial indictment of SPLC in April 2026, these DAF sponsors suspended grants to the organization despite the lack of conviction or IRS action against it. The article highlights that DAF sponsors control over $327 billion in assets and have significant influence over philanthropy, yet they often provide little transparency or explanation for their decisions. ProPublica found inconsistencies in how these sponsors apply their policies, leaving donors and charities in the dark about the reasoning behind defunding decisions. The piece raises concerns about the growing power of these financial gatekeepers in shaping charitable giving.
This National Youth Sports Organization Is Failing to Protect Kids From Sexual Abuse
ProPublica and The Washington Post investigated the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU), revealing significant failures in protecting children from sexual abuse. Despite promising 'historic' reforms after a 2011 scandal involving its CEO and young athletes, the AAU has not implemented most of these changes. The report found that the AAU does not provide child abuse prevention training, fails to verify coach participation in such training, and allows coaches banned by other organizations to continue working with children. The AAU also exonerated a top executive accused of sexual abuse without interviewing any witnesses. These findings suggest systemic issues in the organization's approach to athlete safety.
Fiasco in the Factory: Taxpayers Funded a $533 Million Artillery Plant That Made Nothing
The U.S. Army funded a $533 million artillery plant operated by General Dynamics, which failed to produce a single usable shell despite receiving taxpayer money. The facility, located near Dallas, relied heavily on unvetted Turkish subcontractors and cutting-edge machinery that repeatedly malfunctioned, including robots that caught fire and press machines requiring manual intervention with sledgehammers. Former employees described chaotic working conditions, with frequent breakdowns and unsafe practices. The Army suspended operations on two of the plant's three production lines in August 2025 after repeated missed deadlines, yet General Dynamics continued to receive additional contract awards totaling $2.5 billion. The project highlights significant issues with oversight, procurement processes, and accountability within military contracting.