Oversight in your inbox
Weekly newsletter and updates
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.
-
Analysis
Call Me Maybe
GSA's new wireless agreement is being applauded for its cost savings and efficiencies. But does it really answer the call, especially after taking years to award?
-
AnalysisF-35 Cost Findings, Recommendations and More (Part 5 of 5)
The fifth (last) installment of my F-35 unit cost series is at Time's Battleland at http://nation.time.com/2013/06/07/on-final-approach-to-fighter-fiscal-sanity/ and below. At the end of part 5 are links to each of the previous parts, but Mark Thompson at Time has done such a...
-
Analysis
Shielding the Whistleblowers
An amendment offered by Reps. Jackie Speier (D-Calif.) and Mike Coffman (R-Colo.) that would go a long way to address the shortcomings of the current law to ensure that service members are protected from retaliation when they report sexual assaults and other unlawful behavior.
-
Analysis
Lawmaker Calls on Pentagon to Release Report on Zero Dark Thirty Probe
Rep. Peter King wants the Pentagon to release the results of an investigation he requested almost two years ago into possible leaks of classified information to the makers of Zero Dark Thirty, the movie about the hunt for Osama bin Laden.
-
Analysis
Conservative Report Finds $1.8 Trillion in Pentagon Savings
In a report released Tuesday, the fiscally conservative organizations R Street Group and National Taxpayers Union found over $1.8 trillion in potential savings at the Pentagon.
-
AnalysisHow Many $200 million F-35s Would You Care to Buy? (Part 3 of 5)
Empirical data from the Defense Department's CFO shows that F-35 unit costs are going up, not coming down. This is contrary to what Secretary Hagel and his F-35 program manager, Lt. Gen. Bogdan, are saying. Moreover, the current unit cost is immense at $219 million for each ...
-
AnalysisDOD’s Calculating Calculations (Part 2 of 5)
The Defense Department just released its new Selected Acquisition Report ("SAR") on the F-35. It purports to support Secretary Hagel's and General Bogdan's assertions that the unit cost of the F-35 is "coming down." Caveat Emptor.
-
AnalysisDetails on the Growing Cost of the F-35 and the Sad Story of GAO and the Duckworth Amendment (Part 4 of 5)
The cost for both the Air Force and Navy versions of the F-35 are increasing; the "cheaper" (actually unaffordably pricey) F-35A for the Air Force appears to be stabilizing as it climbs to almost $190 million per aircraft and the B and C versions for the Marine Corps...
-
Policy Letter
Openness Groups Urge Senate to Vote YES on Cardin, NO on Grassley-Donnelly on the Farm Bill
On behalf of the undersigned groups, we urge you to support the Cardin alternative (Amendment 1159) to the Grassley–Donnelly Amendments (Amendment 970, 1011, and 1097) to the Farm Bill (S. 954). The alternative we support would reinforce existing privacy protections for farmer...
-
Policy Letter
POGO and Groups from Right to Left Urge Vote for Protections for Whistleblowers and Sexual Assault Victims in the Military
Our undersigned organizations with diverse interests and ideologies write to urge you to vote for a bipartisan amendment to enhance protections for military whistleblowers and victims of sexual assault that will be offered by Representatives Jackie Speier (D-CA) and Mike Coffm...
-
AnalysisThe New Era of Good F-35 Feelings (Part 1 of 5)
The buzz for the last few weeks on the F-35 has been mostly positive, especially on the central issue of cost--most prominently unit cost. It is important to keep track of who and what are making accountable statements that costs are "coming down" and who has been d...
-
AnalysisHow Much Does An F-35 Really Cost?
There’s been a rash of recent reports that the U.S. military has wrestled the F-35’s cost growth to the mat. They come from some heavy hitters: Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, Air Force Lieut. General Christopher Bogdan, the F-35′s program manager, and the Pentagon’s latest Sel...