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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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AnalysisPresident Trump’s Pentagon Budget Proposal, More of the Same
President Trump’s budget proposal includes a $54 billion defense increase. While that is massive, it isn’t enough for some. Yet without fundamental reforms, these increases will do little more than feed the Pentagon monster without actually providing a more effective military.
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AnalysisContract Transparency: What Uncle Sam Can Learn from the States
The federal government could learn a lot from the states on contract transparency. Two thirds of the states proactively post at least some of their contract documents right on their spending websites. Despite spending hundreds of billions through contracts each year, the feder...
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AnalysisWe Need to Audit the Pentagon
More than 20 years after Congress passed a law requiring every major federal agency to be able to pass a financial audit, the Department of Defense is the only major federal agency that can’t do it. Calls to increase spending by $30 billion, $54 billion, or $85 billion per yea...
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AnalysisFilling in the Blanks at Trump’s Pentagon
With all those top civilians MIA, let’s set our own military priorities!
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AnalysisTrump’s Trademarks Pose Ethics Challenge for the Executive Branch
President Trump has trademark litigation before an executive branch panel—these judges ultimately work for Trump. Can they neutrally preside over a case involving him?
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AnalysisJustice Dept. Improves Access to Foreign Lobbying Documents
As Country Focuses on Foreign Interference, DOJ Makes Foreign Lobbying Info Available for First Time
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AnalysisPOGO Powers Up for Sunshine Week
POGO goes big on Sunshine Week with a series of events drawing attention to the importance of making government information accessible to the public.
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AnalysisCongress Passes Rollback of Contractor Accountability Measure
Congress passed a resolution blocking new contractor fair pay and workplace safety measures. This is disappointing in light of reports by Senator Warren and others, which have highlighted labor violations by federal contractors.
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AnalysisA Small Step Toward a Better House of Representatives
The House Intelligence Committee is one step closer to increasing its ability to conduct effective oversight of the CIA, NSA, FBI, and the rest of the intelligence community after Committee on House Administration approved a 31 percent increase to its budget.
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AnalysisGovt Watchdog Finds Flaws in Implementation of Contractor Whistleblower Law
Whistleblower protections for federal contractors have been inconsistently implemented, according to a recent report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO).
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AnalysisWhat I’ve Learned Covering the Military for 40 Years
Scant public interest yields ceaseless wars to nowhere
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AnalysisContractor Fair Pay and Workplace Safety Rules in Peril
This week, Congress moved one step closer to overturning new rules designed to improve workplace safety and contractor accountability.