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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
POGO and Allies Support Amending the Presidential Records Act
As groups dedicated to greater accountability and transparency in government, we write in support of the Presidential Records Act Amendments of 2011, H.R. 3071. This bill provides a framework for the assertion of privilege by a former president and clarifies the rights and ob...
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Policy Letter
POGO and Allies Support H.R. 3289, the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act
Our undersigned organizations applaud your leadership in earning bipartisan support for the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act of 2011 (WPEA), H.R 3289, as well as immediate action to consider the legislation this Thursday in the House Oversight and Government Reform Com...
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Policy Letter
POGO asks NRC to Release North Anna Nuclear Power Station Records
In 1977, the Department of Justice launched a criminal investigation into Virginia Electric and Power Co, the owner of the North Anna power plant. The investigation revealed that the company covered up its knowledge of a seismic fault line that runs beneath the plant. Over 30 ...
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Analysis
The Return of Aaron Barr: Victim of Embarrassing Hacking Now Cybersecurity Chief at Large Federal Contractor
If you have been following the Wikileaks saga, you might remember the inciden involving an IT executive named Aaron Barr and the activist hacker group known as Anonymous. It's a comically bizarre story, but it has larger implications that deserve to be taken very seriously.
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Analysis
Obama’s New Executive Order Has More Balance than Initial Post-WikiLeaks Response
The President has issued an executive order (EO) to prevent future leaks of classified information that addresses many concerns POGO had with a previous policy memo issued in the wake of several high-profile WikiLeaks disclosures.
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Analysis
GAO Raises Serious Concerns about Conflicts of Interest and Inadequate Transparency at Federal Reserve Banks
The professional and financial ties between the directors of the 12 regional Federal Reserve Banks and Fed-supervised firms have created a "reputational risk" for the Federal Reserve System, and the Reserve Banks have not given the public access to key governance doc...
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Public Comment
POGO opposes false and misleading DOJ FOIA amendment
The Project On Government Oversight (POGO) provides the following public comment to RIN 1105–AB27, “Revision of Department of Justice Freedom of Information Act Regulations” (76 Fed. Reg. 57940, September 19, 2011). The Department of Justice’s (DOJ) notice of proposed rulemaki...
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Policy Letter
POGO and Partners Urge Committee to Pass Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act of 2011
We, the undersigned groups representing the dozens of organizations in the Make It Safe Coalition, write to urge you and the members of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee to pass the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act of 2011 (WPEA), S. 743, ...
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Analysis
Good News: Marine Whistleblower Franz Gayl’s Indefinite Suspension Is On Hold, For Now
The two leading federal agencies responsible for government whistleblower protections have moved to protect a high-profile Marine Corps science adviser, whose disclosures may have saved thousands of U.S. troops from death and injury.
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Analysis
State Dept. IG Finds Waste and Mismanagement on Afghanistan Contract
The Commission on Wartime Contracting (CWC) may be history, but the need for a contingency operations watchdog of the CWC's caliber will never go away. In fact, just as the CWC was closing up shop last week, the State Department Inspector General released a report finding prob...
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Policy Letter
POGO and Partners Urge House to Pass Federal Advisory Committee Legislation
On behalf of the undersigned organizations, we are writing in strong support of the “Federal Advisory Committee Act Amendments of 2011” (H.R. 3124), scheduled for consideration by the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee this Thursday. This legislation, introduced ...
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Public Comment
Proposed Contractor Compensation Data Collection Tool Will Enhance Accountability and Transparency
The Project On Government Oversight (POGO) provides the following public comment to RIN 1250-AA03, “Non-Discrimination in Compensation; Compensation Data Collection Tool,” (76 Fed. Reg. 49398, August 10, 2011). The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) seeks i...