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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
Bipartisan Groups Urge House to Pass Smart Amendments on Pentagon Spending
POGO and partners from across the ideological spectrum ask Members of Congress to support smart spending amendments to the Defense Appropriations Act of FY2014 (H.R. 2397) and to oppose wasteful spending.
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Analysis
Court Chips Away at Whistleblower Protections
A decision this week by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit narrowed the scope of Dodd-Frank protections for one whistleblower, and potentially for the many others who blow the whistle to their employers.
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Analysis
Executive Office Reports that Classification Is Declining
According to an executive office report, portions of the classification system are shrinking. The report was released amid national debate over the balance of security and privacy, and the necessary amount of government secrecy.
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Analysis
Review Finds Security Problems at Diplomatic Posts
An audit by the State Department Inspector General found deficient security at overseas posts under high threat.
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Policy Letter
We Need To Know: POGO and Partners Send Letter Asking the US Government to Be More Open About National Security-Related Mass Surveillance
A group of transparency organizations writes the United States Government to urge greater transparency around national security-related requests to Internet, telephone, and web-based service providers for information about their users and subscribers.
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Analysis
U.S. Reconstruction Project in Afghanistan Gets an F
A new watchdog report found that a teacher training facility in Afghanistan is in precarious shape, thanks to two contractors who were allowed to walk away from the job by the Army Corps of Engineers.
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Analysis
Syria-Aiding Russian Contractor Awarded Another DoD Contract
After coming under fire for its ties to Syria and Iran, Russian helicopter contractor Rosoboronexport was recently awarded a nearly $600 million contract with the Department of Defense.
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AnalysisTwo Super Pieces of Work on Global Hawk
Northrop Grumman's political strategy "is entirely predictable - hire the right people, target the right people, contribute to the right people, then link them together with subcontractors and go for the gold," said Gordon Adams [6], who served as the senior White Ho...
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AnalysisThe Defense Budget Is Even Larger Than You Think: part two
"If Congress goes along [by approving President Obama's 2014 DOD budget request], Pentagon spending levels will exceed any previous high by any other president in any year in peace or in war since the death of President Roosevelt in 1945, except for President George W. Bu...
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Analysis
Is the Defense Budget Even Larger than You Think?
In a two part series (titled "The Defense Budget Is Even Larger than You Think") at Time magazine's Battleland blog, I attempt to explain how high spending advocates and even the Department of Defense misuse and manipulate budget data to alter public and congressiona...
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Analysis
Secret Court Resists Releasing Surveillance Opinions
Transparency advocates have long called for the declassification of secret court opinions that have allowed broad domestic surveillance. A recent letter from the court responsible for approving surveillance requests casts doubt on the release of these opinions, but on question...
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Analysis
A White Elephant and Toxic Air at Camp Leatherneck
The Afghanistan reconstruction watchdog found two egregious examples of waste at Camp Leatherneck.