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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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AnalysisAcknowledging Judicial Errors: Rejecting the Doctrine of Judicial Finality
Chief Justice William Rehnquist spoke clearly in Herrera v. Collins: “It is an unalterable fact that our judicial system, like the human beings who administer it, is fallible.”
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AnalysisThe Pentagon’s New Stealth Bookkeeping
Cleaner Financial Books Apparently Require Some Dirtier Numbers
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AnalysisKnowing Their Worth: President’s Budget Sought Big Cuts to Inspectors General
A Senate report shows that the President’s budget sought funding cuts to some inspectors general despite increases to agency budgets. This sets a bad precedent for the public and Congress.
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AnalysisWeaponizing Security Clearances Is Unacceptable, Whether CIA Directors are the Victims or Perpetrators
Executive agencies regularly use their classification powers to avoid oversight or accountability for embarrassing or unlawful conduct. Congress needs to create enforceable protections against using the security clearance process for retaliation against whistleblowers and crit...
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AnalysisPassing Grade? Lessons Learned from the 2017 Disasters
A new Federal Emergency Management Agency report describes many “lessons learned” from last summer’s major natural disasters. However, FEMA and the nation are not yet adequately prepared for the next one.
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AnalysisAs “Zero Tolerance” Cases Skyrocket, Other Prosecutions Slow
New data suggests that the Justice Department’s focus on misdemeanor prosecutions under “zero tolerance” has led to a dramatic decrease in prosecutions of serious crimes like drug trafficking and human smuggling.
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AnalysisRating the Watchdogs: Are Our Inspectors General Effective?
New articles by Federal News Radio and Government Executive raise issues worthy of examination regarding the inspector general community, issues that are also addressed by POGO’s recent report on our nation’s federal watchdogs.
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AnalysisArmy Carefully Considering Next Worldwide Logistics Contractors
After repeated contractor misconduct in past contracts, the U.S. Army deliberates over who to award the latest worldwide warfighters-support contract to.
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AnalysisComparing Current Foreign Influence Reform Legislation
As foreign influence takes the national spotlight, the Project On Government Oversight analyzed current Congressional legislation aimed at improving the Foreign Agents Registration Act.
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AnalysisJust Following Orders: Overdue Oversight and Unanswered Questions on Family Separations
Nearly three months after the Trump administration’s family separation policy began and over one month after a public outcry led to its end, Congress finally held its first hearing on the subject on July 31. It was a necessary step, but not nearly enough.
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AnalysisPaper Cuts: Thunderbolt of Journalism Reveals TSA “Quiet Skies” Surveillance Program
TSA documents describe a program that allows sky marshals to secretly monitor behavior of unsuspecting airplane passengers who have done nothing wrong.