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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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AnalysisPentagon Won’t Release Its Plan to Get Rid of Slush Fund
A recent Government Accountability Office (GAO) report on the Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO) account found the Pentagon has a plan to put enduring requirements back in the base budget but won’t reveal it unless Congress increases its budget. This report, along with conf...
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AnalysisHouse off to Strong Start on Whistleblower Protections in 2017
A House Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee hearing highlighted that the Committee is seriously considering legislative improvements to whistleblower protections, and is ready and willing to conduct oversight of the administration’s handling of whistleblowers. As alwa...
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Analysis
Executive Order is Two Steps Backwards on Regulations
President Trump’s “one-in, two-out” Executive Order on regulations could bring rulemaking to a grinding halt and shortsightedly ignores the benefits from regulations.
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Testimony
Written Testimony of POGO’s Elizabeth Hempowicz on Five Years Later: A Review of the WPEA
In testimony before the House Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on Government Operations, the Project On Government Oversight (POGO) said the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act, passed in 2012, has made it easier for federal employees to report wrongdoing, but...
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Analysis
Trump Fails to Expand Definition of Lobbyist in Ethics Order
President Trump’s ethics executive order fails to drain the swamp and end a federal government controlled by influence peddlers. Although some of the restrictions are good, the order fails to redefine lobbying and therefore offers little hope that much will actually change in ...
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AnalysisPOGO: F-35 “Deal” Unlikely to Result in Savings
Lockheed Martin hasn’t yet completed the development process for the F-35 program. Despite the phony combat readiness declarations by the Marine Corps and the Air Force, the F-35 is still incapable of performing nearly all combat missions it is intended to perform.
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AnalysisForeign Lobbying Revolving Door Closed? Not Quite
President Trump’s Executive Order banning those in his administration from going on to become foreign lobbyists under the Foreign Agents Registration Act does not fully address the revolving door between public service and foreign influence.
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AnalysisGovernment Financials a Mess, Improper Payments Rise Again
The Government Accountability Office released its financial audit of the federal government for fiscal year 2016, again unable to provide an opinion due to long-standing deficiencies and citing concerns regarding improper payments.
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AnalysisGovernment Gag Orders Put Public at Risk
If the White House is issuing gag orders to prevent employees at federal agencies from communicating with Congress and the public, it could be illegal and represent a serious threat to public health and safety.
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AnalysisHeather Wilson’s Past Raises Questions on Appointment for Air Force Secretary
Heather Wilson's nomination to be Air Force Secretary is concerning due to her past employment with several nuclear laboratories, and the Senate should ensure that her ties to these labs and the contractors running them will not influence her decision-making.
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Policy Letter
Ethics Commitments by Executive Branch Personnel
This is a draft executive order created by POGO and submitted to campaigns and transition teams in 2016.
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Policy Letter
POGO Works with Bipartisan Coalition to Propose Expanding Obama Ethics Executive Order
POGO and a coalition of bipartisan government groups and individuals has recommended to President Trump that he should strengthen President Obama's ethics pledge for executive branch employees. That means going beyond the current limitations on registered lobbyists to cover an...