A joint investigation by Mediapart, Drop Site News, Il Fatto Quotidiano, and other media outlets has uncovered that the US government secretly controls nearly half of the funding for the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), the world’s largest international investigative journalism network. The probe also reveals that Washington has significant power over OCCRP’s leadership and editorial direction, raising concerns over the organization’s editorial independence.
Founded in 2008, the OCCRP initially focused on exposing corruption and organized crime in the Balkans. Today, it operates with a budget of €20 million, a global team of 200 journalists, and over 70 media partners, including prominent outlets like The New York Times, The Guardian, and Der Spiegel. The OCCRP has become internationally recognized for its high-profile investigations, such as The Panama Papers and the Pegasus Project.
However, the investigation, published on Monday, highlights the US government’s central role in funding the OCCRP’s operations. Since its inception, the US has provided $47 million in financial support, with agencies like USAID contributing millions. This funding, while crucial for the OCCRP’s operations, comes with significant conditions.
The report reveals that the US not only holds veto power over key leadership appointments at OCCRP but also steers the organization’s investigations towards certain geopolitical interests, including Russia and Venezuela. For example, OCCRP received $2.2 million for a project aimed at investigating Russian media, and $2.3 million for a project targeting corruption in Cyprus and Malta—both areas with direct implications for US foreign policy.
Drew Sullivan, the OCCRP’s co-founder and publisher, confirmed the US government as its largest donor and acknowledged the importance of American funding for the organization. In a 2023 interview with German state broadcaster NDR, Sullivan admitted that the US’s financial support is vital to OCCRP’s work, but emphasized that it comes with strings attached. The US government not only funds specific investigations but also has the right to veto key personnel decisions, including Sullivan’s own position.
The close relationship between the OCCRP and the US government has raised concerns among critics who argue that the network’s independence may be compromised. Some accuse the OCCRP of using its reporting to advance US foreign policy, with the Global Anti-Corruption Consortium (GACC)—co-funded by the US—using OCCRP’s findings to drive judicial actions, sanctions, and lobbying against countries and individuals deemed corrupt by Washington. According to USAID’s Mike Henning, OCCRP’s work is seen as an important tool for advancing US strategic interests.
Critics, however, suggest that the OCCRP’s reliance on US funding undermines its credibility. “It makes the US seem virtuous and allows them to set the agenda of what is defined as corruption,” said a director from a South American media outlet that worked with the OCCRP. This close relationship with the US has already led some state-level media partners to suspend their cooperation with the organization, particularly when it comes to sensitive topics involving US-related corruption.
