Featured February 24, 2026 A government built to change: Join us as we commemorate America at 250 Back to Blog For the people, by the people, of the people: How changes to our government have made it more accountable Date March 24, 2026 Authors Hannah Sobran Tags Congress, Government Effectiveness As America approaches its 250th anniversary, the federal government faces a problem: the public does not believe that it is trustworthy or responsible. In 2025, two-thirds of Americans said that the federal government is “corrupt” and 61% said it is “wasteful.” Only a third of Americans said they trust the federal government. Yet there is hope that we can change this trajectory. As we celebrate the semiquincenntennial it is a chance to reflect on the long history of efforts to increase accountability in government, ensure those in public service are responsible for their actions and decisions, and support the notion that the government exists to serve the public good. Creating a nonpartisan and accountable civil service One of the greatest changes regarding the operation of our government from its founding to today has been the transformation of the civil service from a patronage system rooted in personal connections and loyalty to one based on qualifications and performance. The first major effort to professionalize the federal workforce came with the passage of the Pendleton Act of 1883, which established that federal employees should be hired and promoted based on merit. This practice was expanded through the years to apply to most federal workers. The law also created a probationary period for most civil servants as a way to remove poor performers early in their tenure. In 1939, Congress passed the Hatch Act, which limited the ability of federal employees to engage in certain political activities. The goal of this law was to ensure that career federal employees were not administering programs, making decisions or receiving promotions based on partisan or political affiliation. Increasing transparency around government decisions and spending For much of our country’s history, members of the public had limited access to information about what government was doing and how it was spending its money. Over time, however, this has changed. The Administrative Procedure Act, enacted in 1946, requires that agencies publish advanced notice of proposed and final regulations and provide opportunities for the public to comment on proposed rules. This legislation also created the Freedom of Information Act, which gave the public the right to request access to records from any federal agency. FOIA has since been expanded to prioritize full agency disclosure. This law has been widely used to make government information public; in fiscal year 2024 alone, the federal government received 1.5 million FOIA requests. With the implementation of the 2006 Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act, the federal government created one centralized website where members of the public can access detailed government spending data for contracts, grants and loans. The introduction of independent oversight mechanisms As the United States has grown and transformed, additional action has been taken by Congress and federal leaders to ensure that the government is a responsible shepherd of taxpayer dollars. These changes have been vital in creating institutions that are dedicated to uncovering wrongdoing and improving government but not subject to political pressure which could limit their impact. The Government Accountability Office serves as a key institution for ensuring funds are properly spent. First established in 1921 to audit federal expenditures, the GAO has evolved to ensure programs across the government are following the law and that expenditures are clearly documented. In fiscal 2024, the GAO had a return of $76 for every $1 invested by recommending ways to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of federal programs. The introduction of inspectors general in the 1970s provided a targeted way to identify and investigate waste, fraud and abuse within government agencies and provide recommendations for avoiding similar problems in the future. In fiscal 2024 alone, IGs identified over $50 billion in costs that could be eliminated or put to better use, and recovered over $18 billion from their investigations into fraud or improper expenditure of funds. The independence of inspectors general is currently being contested. The work of improving the federal government is never done and numerous reforms have been adopted over the decades to ensure greater transparency and to respond to the growing and changing needs of the country. The 250th anniversary is another opportunity to think about how we can continue on this path of improvement. At the Partnership for Public Service, we will continue to advocate for improved leadership, management and service delivery by charting a new path forward to make our government more effective, responsive and accountable.
