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ProPublica Seeks 401(k) Fee Data as Trump Loosens Investment Rules

7/8/2026

Summary

Story summary

ProPublica is asking 401(k) and 403(b) participants, small-business employers, and experts to share details on plan fees and product offerings.
Trump administration is easing enforcement and revising rules to permit private-equity and cryptocurrency investments in plans.
Many participants fail to notice fees or advisory costs because disclosures are buried in plan documents.
ProPublica will not collect account balances or personal identifiers and provides an encrypted app for submissions at propublica.org/tips.

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Story summary

ProPublica is asking 401(k) and 403(b) participants, small-business employers, and experts to share details on plan fees and product offerings.
Trump administration is easing enforcement and revising rules to permit private-equity and cryptocurrency investments in plans.
Many participants fail to notice fees or advisory costs because disclosures are buried in plan documents.
ProPublica will not collect account balances or personal identifiers and provides an encrypted app for submissions at propublica.org/tips.