Investigative journalists are always looking to talk to the people closest to a story.
This was especially true this year, with the Trump administration’s impact on federal workers. Dismantling federal agencies meant losing career public servants who spent decades learning how government agencies work, and all their insights about the potential consequences of these drastic cuts were literally walking out the door with them. So we showed up.
When employees of the U.S. Agency for International Development were given 15 minutes to clear out their personal belongings from the soon-to-be-shuttered agency headquarters in Washington, D.C., ProPublica was there:
We rented a truck with a digital billboard to advertise our tip line: “Are (were) you a government worker? ProPublica journalists want to hear from you.”
When Consumer Finance Protection Bureau staffers cleaned out their desks a few weeks later, our truck was stationed outside once again, with reporters handing out business cards and collecting stories.
This fall, we put ads in Washington, D.C., Metro lines, inviting commuters to reach out: “Someone on this train has the next big story. Is it you?”
Throughout 2025, our reporting has been fueled by hundreds of federal employees who shared their experiences, advice and inside knowledge with us:
- Massive Layoffs at the Department of Education Erode Its Civil Rights Division
- NOAA Scientists Are Cleaning Bathrooms and Reconsidering Lab Experiments After Contracts for Basic Services Expire
- Trump Said Cuts Wouldn’t Affect Public Safety. Then He Fired Hundreds of Workers Who Help Fight Wildfires.
- “The Federal Government Is Gone”: Under Trump, the Fight Against Extremist Violence Is Left Up to the States
- Internal Memos: Senior USAID Leaders Warned Trump Appointees of Hundreds of Thousands of Deaths From Closing Agency
- Gutted: How Deeply Trump Has Cut Federal Health Agencies
We are dogged in our commitment to work in the public’s interest and bring the truth to light. And our small but extremely mighty team is creative when it comes to finding new ways to connect with people closest to the issues. We’ve got reporters all over the country investigating stories of injustice and corruption — stories that can make a real difference for everyday people. It’s the only kind of work we do, and we’re able to sustain it because of the generosity and confidence of our readers. Show up with us.