When the Office of Management and Budget stopped following a law that requires them to publicly share how the White House is using federal taxpayer dollars, we sued and forced them to restore the data.
Stopping the Consolidation of Power
our work
We work to prevent unchecked power, defend the rule of law, and protect the right to dissent.
The United States must maintain three co-equal branches of government, each with their own responsibilities.
Would-be authoritarians often abuse their power, using it to eliminate checks and balances, quash dissent, target already marginalized communities, and deepen political divisions.
The Constitution and the laws we have built around it provide tools to constrain authoritarian behavior — but many of the norms and guardrails that help define our democracy are not written into law and are not self-enforcing. Together these restraints must be deployed (and strengthened) to prevent the executive branch from abusing its power and to ensure the law applies equally to everyone, from the most powerful to the least.
- Uphold the principle that nobody is above the law.
- Ensure meaningful checks and balances on executive power.
- Stop abuses that target marginalized groups and their ability to participate in democracy.
- Protect the ability of the public and the press to voice dissenting views.
- Protect independent, non-politicized law enforcement and civil servant workforces.
We are working with legislators in a number of states on legislation that would allow people to sue any official — federal, state, or local — who violates their constitutional rights.
Tracking retaliatory use of arrests, prosecutions, and investigations by the Trump administration
How to tell if the Trump DOJ is enforcing the law or retaliating against political enemies.
May 4, 2026
Safeguarding a nonpartisan civil service
Protect Democracy is protecting a nonpartisan, merit-based civil service through litigation, communications, policy, and other advocacy.
May 20, 2026
Safeguarding the role of America’s military lawyers
Why the JAG Corps is essential to U.S. national security and what Congress can do to strengthen and protect this vital institution.
May 19, 2026
Defending the media against FCC Censorship
Protect Democracy and our partners are pursuing legal action to defend the First Amendment and safeguard a free and independent press.
May 12, 2026
Tracking retaliatory use of arrests, prosecutions, and investigations by the Trump administration
How to tell if the Trump DOJ is enforcing the law or retaliating against political enemies.
May 4, 2026
Former FCC officials & broadcast journalists ask court to compel FCC response to News Distortion Policy petition
The filing asks the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia to order the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to decide whether to repeal the News Distortion Policy.
April 28, 2026
72 retired generals, admirals, & service secretaries file amicus brief supporting Sen. Mark Kelly’s freedom of speech
Protect Democracy and its partners represent 72 retired generals, admirals, and service secretaries in an amicus brief oppose the administration’s attempt to punish the speech of Sen. Mark Kelly.
April 20, 2026
DHS’s Home Entry Memo violates the constitutional rights of immigrants and citizens alike
We filed a lawsuit against ICE and DHS on behalf of immigrants and U.S. citizens who have had their Fourth Amendment rights violated by DHS’s secret warrantless home entry memo.
April 2, 2026
What democracy means
Democracy is a system of government where the people freely select their leaders and those leaders are constrained while in office.
March 23, 2026
Flagging anomalous apportionmentsÂ
This page identifies apportionments approved by OMB that include restrictions or conditions that may be signs of OMB frustrating or defying congressional spending directives.
March 20, 2026
Republican former FCC officials call on Congress to fight back against Carr’s abuses of the FCC
The chairs issued a statement following Brendan Carr's threats to revoke the broadcast licenses of media companies over their coverage of the U.S. war with Iran.
March 18, 2026