The Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), a foreign news organization central to the first impeachment of President-elect Donald Trump, has received extensive funding from the U.S. State Department, according to an investigation by Drop Site News.
OCCRP’s reporting on Rudy Giuliani’s activities in Ukraine was referenced multiple times in the whistleblower complaint that led to Trump’s impeachment. However, new revelations indicate that U.S. taxpayers have contributed 52% of the organization’s budget between 2013 and 2024, amounting to at least $47 million since its 2008 founding. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), a State Department subsidiary, is OCCRP’s largest single donor.
Critics have raised concerns over the implications of government-funded journalism. Lowell Bergman, a renowned investigative journalist, resigned from OCCRP’s board in 2014, citing discomfort with USAID’s involvement. “U.S. government involvement is a complicated issue,” Bergman said, explaining his decision to step down.
Other media outlets have also distanced themselves from OCCRP upon learning of its financial backing. NDR, a German news outlet, suspended its collaboration with OCCRP, while The New York Times stated it was unaware of the extent of the group’s U.S. government funding.
An unnamed Latin American journalist who worked with OCCRP voiced skepticism about the organization’s editorial independence. “The truth is we don’t know how deep the influence goes in some newsrooms,” the journalist told Drop Site News.
In addition to USAID and the State Department, OCCRP lists the Rockefeller Brothers Fund and George Soros’ Open Society Foundation as financial supporters. OCCRP co-founder Drew Sullivan insists there is an editorial firewall between the outlet and its government funders. However, Drop Site News uncovered conditions tied to the funding, including federal veto power over senior editorial hires.
Some collaborators have expressed discomfort with the perception of bias stemming from the organization’s financial ties. Critics argue that reliance on U.S. government funding creates a conflict of interest, especially in politically sensitive investigations.
The revelations raise questions about media impartiality in politically charged cases, such as Trump’s first impeachment. Critics contend that State Department funding may have influenced OCCRP’s focus on Trump’s allies, potentially undermining trust in investigative journalism.
These findings come as skepticism grows over media transparency and potential government influence in shaping narratives critical of Trump and his administration.
