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Latest Policy Publications
POGO’s experts push policymakers to enact commonsense reforms that tackle waste, corruption, and abuse of power; hold those who’ve violated the public trust accountable; protect our constitutional rights; and make the government work for all people.
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Policy Letter
Civil Society Responds to House Attempt to Limit FOIA
Last week, news broke that Chairman Hensarling of the Committee on Financial Services in the House instructed Executive Branch agencies to incorrectly apply the legal standards of the Freedom of Information Act. POGO was joined by 20 civil society organizations to object to th...
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AnalysisWaste Deep in the Big Afghaniquicksand
A U.S. recruit who joined in the invasion of the country in 2001 would be looking forward to retirement now
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AnalysisICE’s Private Detention Centers Keep Data Under Lock and Key
Hundreds of thousands of people are held for varying amounts of time in America’s privately run detention centers every year. But good luck trying to piece together the sparse data that the federal government makes public about these private detention centers.
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AnalysisPay Gap Report Misses Big Picture, Fails to Resolve Whether Outsourcing Saves Money
The latest comparison of federal government and private sector compensation touched off another debate between pro-contractor and pro-federal employee interest group, but it doesn’t resolve whether the government is getting the most bang for its workforce buck.
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Testimony
Groups Urge Congress for Foreign Lobbying Reform
Civil society groups urge Congress to take additional steps to provide transparency for the government and the American people into how foreign entities try to influence US policies.
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AnalysisTrump’s First 100 Days: Fibs, Fudges—and a Slur
His comment that the U.S. military is now proud only because of him reeks of strongmanitis
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AnalysisWatchdog Tells Congress to Slow Down New “Frigate” Program
The latest Government Accountability Office (GAO) review of the Navy’s Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) urges Congress not to blindly approve a new frigate program based on the LCS without knowing the design, cost, and capabilities.
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AnalysisIt Keeps Getting Worse for Michael Flynn
President Trump’s former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn may be in legal trouble for failing to disclose information about his relationships with foreign governments.
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AnalysisWill Trump’s Veterans Affairs Exec Order Make a Difference to Whistleblowers?
President Trump is establishing another office at the VA focused on accountability and whistleblowers. Will it solve problems or create new ones?
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AnalysisGAO: Now’s Not the Time to Significantly Increase Funding for F-35
The F-35 program must complete the development process of the most expensive project in history before sinking more money for future purchases, according to the top government watchdog agency. This process is expected to be delayed as program officials are unlikely to achieve ...
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Policy Letter
POGO Requests Justice Department Investigation Into General Michael Flynn
General Michael Flynn, the former National Security Advisor, did not disclose payments from foreign governments on his security clearance questionnaire and belatedly disclosed foreign lobbying. POGO asks the Justice Department to investigate.
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AnalysisDefense Secretary Mattis Urged to Review Whistleblower Retaliation Cases
A coalition of whistleblower advocates wants Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis to hold two-high ranking officials found to have retaliated against whistleblowers accountable, saying proper action would set the tone for his tenure.