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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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AnalysisAre the Joint Chiefs of Staff as Broken as Congress?
The Joint Chiefs of Staff testified to the House and Senate Armed Services Committees this week arguing that unless their budgets are augmented with still more money they will hollow out the armed forces.
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Analysis
Pentagon Pork Is Too Easy to Push Through Congress
It’s getting easier to find people inside Washington’s Beltway who want to cut the fat from the Pentagon budget. Scaling back military spending isn’t just for the most progressive members of Congress anymore.
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Analysis
Starving on a Feast of Money
Today's heavily pre-scripted budget protection ploy enacted by the Pentagon's civilian and military leadership at the Senate Armed Services Committee, and again tomorrow at the House Armed Services Committee, is in the face of the Pentagon's own budget history.
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Analysis
The $360 Billion Gorilla in the Sequestration Debate
There’s a $360 billion gorilla in the sequestration debate – Pentagon contractors.
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AnalysisCol. Macgregor on the Need for New Military Leadership
Given the morally and mentally bankrupt performance of the nation's military leaders in recent weeks over the prospect of a 7% readjustment of the defense budget back to its 2006/2007 levels, Col. Doug Macgregor's new piece at Battleland is a breath of fresh air.
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Analysis
Troops to Get Smaller Raise Than Last Year Under New Proposal
The Pentagon is planning to increase the pay for members of the uniformed military by 1 percent for 2014, down from the 1.7 percent increase for 2013, according to an article in Government Executive.
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Analysis
POGO Joins Natural Resources Extraction Transparency Initiative
POGO Executive Director Danielle Brian will join a federal advisory committee that aims to ensure that the government and taxpayers are getting their fair share of revenues from natural resources that come from public lands.
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Analysis
Should SIGAR Have Suspension and Debarment Power?
While the government considers whether to grant SIGAR suspension and debarment powers, dozens of companies and individuals suspected of aiding terrorists in Afghanistan remain eligible to receive U.S. taxpayer money.
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AnalysisHagel’s Hearing: Profoundly Depressing
Watching the Senate Armed Services Committee interact Thursday with former Republican Senator Chuck Hagel—President Obama’s candidate to be secretary of defense—was a profoundly depressing experience.
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Analysis
A Very Thoughtful Piece on the Hagel Confirmation
As Chuck Hagel marches through his talking points at tomorrow's Senate Armed Services Committee, he will disappoint progressives looking for more provocative rhetoric on the defense budget, avoiding war with Iran and the lobby that deeply resents being called "Jewish.&quo...
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Analysis
Are FEMA Debt Collectors Too Easy on the Big Easy?
New Inspector General report finds flaws in FEMA procedures to recover improper disaster relief payments.
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Analysis
Obama, Bush and the Imbalance of Power
Earlier this month, President Obama signaled that he might undermine whistleblower protections that were included in the defense authorization legislation. Did the president overstep his authority?