Oversight in Action: The 22nd Congressional Oversight Boot Camp

In February 2026, the Project On Government Oversight (POGO), Levin Center for Oversight and Democracy, and Lugar Center co-hosted the 22nd Oversight Boot Camp, a two-day training on Capitol Hill focused on strengthening bipartisan investigative oversight in Congress. The training brought together 32 congressional staffers from both parties and both chambers of Congress, representing 27 committees and personal offices. The program was designed to provide participants with key tools and strategies for conducting strong, effective oversight investigations.

Held twice each year, the Oversight Boot Camp promotes bipartisan, fact-based oversight investigations and fosters stronger working relationships between House and Senate staff. By creating space for collaboration across party lines, the program helps build trust and encourages cooperation toward investigative efforts. Participants spend time refining critical oversight skills that support Congress’s constitutional authority and bolster the effectiveness of the legislative branch. One participant said, “It really did a nice job of laying out different elements of oversight, providing a roadmap and practical considerations.”

As part of the training, participants attended a lecture series led by guest instructors and were subsequently divided into teams and assigned to represent one of four congressional committees: the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, House Committee on Oversight and Accountability, and Senate Committee on Appropriations. Their assignment was to investigate a fictional scenario involving a lack of reliable broadband access in rural Arkansas, where a federally funded contractor allegedly overstated coverage, prioritized already-served areas, and left unconnected communities without promised internet service. The exercise challenged participants to determine whether this contractor misrepresented deployment data, misused public funds, or benefited from flawed oversight or political influence, and to assess what reforms were needed to ensure equitable broadband access in underserved communities.

Working within their assigned “committees,” teams collaborated to tackle the issue and develop recommendations aimed at restoring broadband access in rural communities. Each group created an investigative plan, crafted a hearing strategy, outlined a report, and developed a follow-up plan. This hands-on approach allowed participants to apply lessons from the lecture series to their investigation.

Participants engaged in roleplaying exercises that simulated real-world challenges faced by congressional investigators. Throughout the process, boot camp instructors provided ongoing, constructive feedback to deepen participants’ learning.

The boot camp also featured a presentation from the House Office of the Whistleblower Ombuds, which provided in-depth guidance on the resources and support available to congressional offices and committees when working with whistleblowers.

The Hosts

• Tim Stretton, director of the Congressional Oversight Initiative at POGO
• Dave Rapallo, senior advisor and congressional scholar at the Levin Center; associate professor of law at Georgetown University; former staff director of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform

Guest Instructors

• Ashley Callen, co-chair for Jenner & Block’s Congressional Investigative practice; former general counsel to Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA)
• Andy Wright, member of the Public Policy and Law practice group at K&L Gates; former staff director of the Subcommittee on National Security and Foreign Affairs of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform

Testimonials from Boot Camp Attendees

• “Despite working in oversight for several years, it’s always helpful to home skills and create new relationships and friendships in a small oversight community.” — House Republican staffer
• “The training was excellent; it combined practical experiences, historical context of oversight, and a perfect toolkit for a congressional oversight professional.” — House Democratic staffer
• “POGO did an excellent job hosting this boot camp and provided great information. I loved working through the plans for the investigation with my group and I think I was able to learn a lot [from] the instructors and my group members.” — Senate Republican Staffer
• “During the boot camp, I was able to brainstorm ideas for my office in how we can conduct oversight in a more efficient way. I will absolutely be taking what I learned and applying it in my job.” — Senate Democratic staffer