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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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AnalysisVacancies Leave Whistleblowers Vulnerable
To bolster federal oversight and ensure the protection of whistleblowers, President Donald Trump needs to fill positions in Offices of Inspectors General, the Office of Special Counsel, and the Merit Systems Protection Board.
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AnalysisCongress Seeks Pentagon Watchdog Probe of Aircraft Parts Supplier
On Monday, House Armed Services Committee member Representative Ro Khanna (D-CA) asked the Pentagon’s Inspector General to investigate potential misconduct by TransDigm, a key supplier of commercial and military aircraft components.
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AnalysisBoeing Executive Named to Pentagon Will Face Many Potential Conflicts
Boeing executive Patrick Shanahan, if confirmed as Deputy Secretary of Defense, is the second Pentagon nominee named by President Trump who could face significant conflicts of interest.
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AnalysisAre the Military Services All That Different?
Actually, the Marines’ nude-photo scandal highlights the similarities
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AnalysisPresident Trump’s Pentagon Budget Proposal, More of the Same
President Trump’s budget proposal includes a $54 billion defense increase. While that is massive, it isn’t enough for some. Yet without fundamental reforms, these increases will do little more than feed the Pentagon monster without actually providing a more effective military.
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Policy Letter
Bipartisan Groups Support the McCaskill-Tester Bill to Post Contracts Online
The “Contractor Accountability and Transparency Act of 2017” (S. 651) introduced by Senators McCaskill and Tester will enhance transparency in the area of federal contract spending. The bi'l will expand the information available on USASpending.gov, make the contract informatio...
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AnalysisContract Transparency: What Uncle Sam Can Learn from the States
The federal government could learn a lot from the states on contract transparency. Two thirds of the states proactively post at least some of their contract documents right on their spending websites. Despite spending hundreds of billions through contracts each year, the feder...
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AnalysisWe Need to Audit the Pentagon
More than 20 years after Congress passed a law requiring every major federal agency to be able to pass a financial audit, the Department of Defense is the only major federal agency that can’t do it. Calls to increase spending by $30 billion, $54 billion, or $85 billion per yea...
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Policy Letter
Open Letter to the White House on Transparency Objectives
POGO's Danielle Brian sent a letter to the President detailing transparency objectives that the open government community raised to former President Obama that still need to be addressed.
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AnalysisFilling in the Blanks at Trump’s Pentagon
With all those top civilians MIA, let’s set our own military priorities!
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AnalysisTrump’s Trademarks Pose Ethics Challenge for the Executive Branch
President Trump has trademark litigation before an executive branch panel—these judges ultimately work for Trump. Can they neutrally preside over a case involving him?
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AnalysisJustice Dept. Improves Access to Foreign Lobbying Documents
As Country Focuses on Foreign Interference, DOJ Makes Foreign Lobbying Info Available for First Time