Engage the Public

The federal government is critical to our democracy, unmatched in its mandate and authority to serve the public interest, meet the collective needs of our nation and protect us from harm.

Yet the relationship between Americans and their government is strained. Decades of distrust and a growing perception that federal institutions are not working on behalf of the public make many people skeptical of the need for an effective government and unaware of its many accomplishments and the public servants who drive them.

At the same time, we are also witnessing a dramatic reshaping of the federal landscape—deep and arbitrary cuts to federal funding, programming and personnel are severely hampering our government’s ability to fulfill its mission.

In response, we work to improve public understanding of our government’s impact, showing what government looks like when it succeeds and what is at stake when it is weakened.

Why it matters

Because Americans distrust government, they are less motivated to try and influence how it works, which diminishes its ability to understand and meet public needs.

To break this vicious cycle, we illustrate for people how effective government directly serves them—and what is lost when it falls short or is undermined.

Our various data, storytelling and communications efforts humanize and highlight the people behind our government—federal employees who act in service to the public and move our country forward in significant ways. We also demonstrate the direct harms that local communities and individuals experience when the core work of government is disrupted.

Through these efforts, we seek to mobilize members of the public to make their voices heard about the value of government. Our content, programming and resources spur individuals and organizations to share and promote compelling stories of public service and public servants through various media and communications channels and with policymakers, civic leaders and others.