11 February 2026
Washington, DC, USA / London, UK /
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Across the United States, public servants are finding new, innovative ways to solve complex problems and better serve their communities. ‘50 States, 50 Breakthroughs’, published today, brings those stories into the spotlight — celebrating the most pioneering public sector projects, and the people behind them, that are driving toward better government in the United States.
The showcase, a collaboration between Apolitical, the National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA) and Humans of Public Service, features a project from every US state, plus Washington DC, Guam and Puerto Rico.
Together, the case studies demonstrate how innovation is happening at every level of government – from local to federal – and everything from digital transformation and citizen engagement to quantum, energy and AI. Projects delivering real impact, and celebrated in 50 States, 50 Breakthroughs, include:
Maryland’s AI toolkit saving tax-dollars by automatically, and expertly, reviewing legislature
The ingenuitive childcare approach that keeps parents working in West Virginia through cost-shareing between employers, providers and the state
The instant translation devices helping Arizona residents engage with city services in 120+ languages
"At a time when trust in government matters deeply, 50 States, 50 Breakthroughs show what effective, innovative public service looks like in action,” said James-Christian Blockwood, President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Academy of Public Administration. “These solutions improve outcomes in our state and local communities and offer powerful examples that strengthen public service nationwide."
Brian Whittaker, Executive Director of Humans of Public Service, added, “Reading these stories fills us with pride. Public servants across the country are deeply committed to their communities and are finding new, thoughtful ways to serve them better.”
Projects were reviewed by a panel of expert practitioners and leaders from across the public service ecosystem – spanning government, academia, technology and civic innovation. Drawing on deep experience in public sector leadership, scalable impact and innovative technologies, the reviewers helped identify initiatives demonstrating real-world impact, originality and potential to be adapted and scaled by governments nationwide. Together, they offer an encouraging view of what the future of government in the U.S. can look like.
“This is about celebrating the people inside U.S. public service who are – often quietly – delivering extraordinary impact,” said Cori Zarek, Vice President of North America at Apolitical. “Across the country, public servants are finding new ways to solve complex problems and serve their communities better. The 50 States, 50 Breakthroughs list is our way of celebrating that innovation — and making sure these ideas get the attention they deserve.”
The launch is followed by a live virtual event on February 12 bringing together public servants, partners and the wider public service community to explore, and celebrate, key case studies from ‘50 States, 50 Breakthroughs’. Attendees will learn how the breakthrough ideas can be scaled and sustained for better government across the country — and the world.
50 States, 50 Breakthroughs is available now on Apolitical’s platform.
For media enquiries or further information, please contact jessica.vanonselen@apolitical.co
About the National Academy of Public Administration
Chartered by Congress to provide expert advice, the Academy is an independent, nonpartisan, and nonprofit organization established in 1967 to assist government leaders in building more effective, efficient, accountable, and transparent organizations. Learn more at www.napawash.org.
About Humans of Public Service
Humans of Public Service (HOPS) is a non-profit, non-partisan organization that shares stories of public servants on social media platforms such as LinkedIn and Instagram. We aim to support government through leadership and career development opportunities and create a community of public servants across the country.
Humans of Public Service (HOPS) empowers current and future public servants to build satisfying careers that benefit the collective good through celebration, education, and exploration.
About Apolitical Apolitical is the world’s largest online network of public servants, with a mission to make governments smarter. It is used by half a million public servants and policymakers across 170 countries, providing governments with the tools, skills and networks they need to become more effective and tech-enabled organisations. Apolitical is a strategic partner to governments, helping them prepare their workforces for the future. We achieve this by upskilling government workforces through short online courses focused on government priorities, enabling them to find and share best practice through peer communities, and building innovative tools designed for and with governments. Apolitical partners with leading universities and research institutions, including Oxford, the London School of Economics, Stanford Online, and Georgetown University.