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Public Citizen
| Public Citizen | |
 | |
| Basic facts | |
| Location: | Washington D.C. and Austin, Texas |
| Type: | 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) |
| Affiliation: | Nonpartisan |
| Top official: | Lisa Gilbert and Robert Weissman, co-presidents |
| Founder(s): | Ralph Nader |
| Year founded: | 1971 |
| Website: | Official website |
Public Citizen is a 501(c)(4) organization that advocates on a range of issues, including government accountability and campaign finance.[1] Its work is supported by a 501(c)(3) arm, the Public Citizen Foundation.[1] Public Citizen focuses on lobbying Congress and federal agencies , while the Public Citizen Foundation focuses on research, litigation and public awareness of the organization's core issues.[2]
Background
Public Citizen was founded by Ralph Nader's in 1971 as part of his activism on issues related to the American automobile industry.[3] [4]
As of July 2025, Public Citizen's website says it serves as "a nonprofit consumer advocacy organization that champions the public interest in the halls of power."[1] The Washington Post has called the organization a "public watchdog" and a "consumer advocacy group."[5][6] As of July 2025, the organization had 500,000 members.[1]
Leadership
Public Citizen is divided into two separate boards to represent the Public Citizen Foundation and Public Citizen, respectively. As of July 2025, the co-presidents of Public Citizen are Lisa Gilbert and Robert Weissman.[7]
The boards as of 2025 for both organizations consisted of the following people:[8]
Public Citizen
- Jason B. Adkins (Chair)
- Brandi Collins-Dexter
- Joan Claybrook
- Anna Galland
- Josaline Garcia
- Lisa Gilbert (Ex-Officio)
- Danny Goldberg
- Jim Hightower
- Joy Howell
- John Richard
- Anthony So
- Robert Weissman (Ex-Officio)
Public Citizen Foundation
- Mark A. Chavez (chair)
- Maya Berry
- Jim Bildner
- Emily Chatterjee
- Robert C. Fellmeth
- Lisa Gilbert (Ex-Officio)
- David Halperin
- Annie Leonard
- Steve Skrovan
- Gerson Smoger
- Robert Weissman (Ex-Officio)
Work and activities
Legislative and policy work
Public Citizen conducts analysis, releases press releases and organizes petitions on legislative and policy issues in eight key areas:[1]
| “ |
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” |
Litigation
As of July 2025, Public Citizen is involved in over 100 active lawsuits against private companies and government agencies.[10] The organization maintains the Public Citizen Litigation Group, which files cases in both federal and state courts.[11]
The Public Citizen Litigation Group's website as of July 2025 said it specializes in "issues involving consumer health and safety, consumer financial protection, access-to-courts issues such as forced arbitration and class-action standards, government transparency, and the First Amendment."[11] Since it was founded in 1972, the litigation arm has argued 65 cases before the U.S. Supreme Court.[11]
Amicus brief activity
Public Citizen, through the Public Citizen Litigation Group, files amicus curiae briefs in the U.S. Supreme Court and courts across the country. In 2023, 2024 and 2025, the group filed nine amicus briefs in cases across the country challenging portions of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022.[12]
Notable endorsements
This section displays endorsements this organization made in elections within Ballotpedia's coverage scope. Know of one we missed? Click here to let us know.
Finances
Below is the annual revenue and expenses for Public Citizen for the 2020 to 2024 fiscal years:
| Annual revenue and expenses for Public Citizen, 2020-24 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Tax Year | Total Revenue | Total Expenses |
| 2024[13] | $8,390,404 | $8,347,501 |
| 2023[14] | $5,728,329 | $7,135,504 |
| 2022[15] | $7,987,999 | $8,970,076 |
| 2021[16] | $7,788,700 | $8,347,092 |
| 2020[17] | $8,342,410 | $6,490,204 |
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Public Citizen. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Public Citizen , "About Us," accessed July 30, 2025
- ↑ Public Citizen , "Public Citizen and Public Citizen Foundation," accessed July 30, 2025
- ↑ Ralph Nader, "The Essential Nader," accessed July 30, 2025
- ↑ Public Citizen , "Public Citizen’s 50th Anniversary People. Power. Progress. Fund," accessed July 30, 2025
- ↑ The Washington Post, "Corporations are people too. But are FEC commissioners people?" accessed June 19, 2015
- ↑ The Washington Post, "Winners and losers in the House trade vote," accessed June 19, 2015
- ↑ Public Citizen , "Staff," accessed July 30, 2025
- ↑ Public Citizen, "Boards of Directors," accessed July 30, 2025
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Public Citizen , "Case Library," accessed July 30, 2025
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Public Citizen , "About Public Citizen Litigation Group," accessed July 30, 2025
- ↑ Public Citizen , "Defending the Inflation Reduction Act’s Drug Price Negotiation Against Industry Lawsuits," April 22, 2025
- ↑ Internal Revenue Service , "Public Citizen 990," accessed July 30, 2025
- ↑ Internal Revenue Service, "Public Citizen 990" accessed July 30, 2025
- ↑ Internal Revenue Service , "Public Citizen 990," accessed July 30, 2025
- ↑ Internal Revenue Service, "Public Citizen 990," accessed July 30, 2025
- ↑ Internal Revenue Service, "Public Citizen 990," accessed July 30, 2025
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