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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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AnalysisThe Danger of Fibbing Our Way into War
Falsehoods and fat military budgets can make conflict more likely
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AnalysisSpending Data Has Improved—Probably
Inspectors general are issuing audits on federal spending data that look promising at first glance. However, changes in the audit methodology, rather than improved performance, are contributing significantly to the low error rate results.
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AnalysisContractors Use Shell Games to Hide Owners, Cheat Taxpayers
Contractors are defrauding the government and endangering national security by hiding their real owners behind shell companies, according to a recent watchdog report.
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AnalysisAdding up the Cost of Our Never-Ending Wars
Luckily, a band of outsiders is trying to do what the government won’t
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AnalysisThe Pentagon’s War on Transparency
It’ll take more than press briefings to reverse the Department of Defense’s troubling retreat into secrecy
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AnalysisDefense Going Dark: A Timeline of Secrecy Increases at the Pentagon
The Project On Government Oversight has compiled a timeline of events to document the changes to Department of Defense and national security policy that may undermine public access to information and harm transparency.
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AnalysisConflicts in Space
Most former officials advocating for Space Force had ties—often financial—to space industry
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AnalysisPentagon Procurement and the Laws of Physics
Some things aren’t possible, but that doesn’t keep the military from trying
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AnalysisCongress Must Reclaim Its Role as a Check on Executive Power
It is time to enact reforms that would recalibrate the balance of power between Congress and the executive branch in emergencies.
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AnalysisFacts Trump Motive
The question at the root of the impeachment inquiry is whether the president abused his office. The ongoing fixation with the whistleblower’s identity is ludicrous, dangerous, and irrelevant.
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AnalysisPhone Briefing on the Role of the Office of Legal Counsel
POGO staff hosted a phone briefing for Hill staff to give an overview of what weight Congress should give the analysis produced by the Office of Legal Counsel and proposals to reform how the office operates.
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AnalysisReport: Interior Gives Oil Companies Discounts on Drilling Rights
The Interior Department has been awarding offshore drilling rights to oil and gas companies for less money than it initially estimates they are worth, a GAO study found.