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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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AnalysisNew Freeze on Regulations Leaves Nuclear Whistleblowers out in the Cold
President Trump’s freeze on all regulations has halted a rule that would have clarified the Department of Energy’s authority to levy civil penalties against contractors who retaliated against whistleblowers who raised nuclear safety concerns.
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AnalysisPentagon Leadership Roles Being Filled with Defense Industry Reps
The nomination of Heather Wilson, and rumored nomination of Robert Rangel, to Department of Defense leadership roles shows where current ethics laws fall short in curtailing the influence of the military-industrial-complex.
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AnalysisPentagon Won’t Release Its Plan to Get Rid of Slush Fund
A recent Government Accountability Office (GAO) report on the Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO) account found the Pentagon has a plan to put enduring requirements back in the base budget but won’t reveal it unless Congress increases its budget. This report, along with conf...
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AnalysisHouse off to Strong Start on Whistleblower Protections in 2017
A House Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee hearing highlighted that the Committee is seriously considering legislative improvements to whistleblower protections, and is ready and willing to conduct oversight of the administration’s handling of whistleblowers. As alwa...
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Analysis
Executive Order is Two Steps Backwards on Regulations
President Trump’s “one-in, two-out” Executive Order on regulations could bring rulemaking to a grinding halt and shortsightedly ignores the benefits from regulations.
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Analysis
Trump Fails to Expand Definition of Lobbyist in Ethics Order
President Trump’s ethics executive order fails to drain the swamp and end a federal government controlled by influence peddlers. Although some of the restrictions are good, the order fails to redefine lobbying and therefore offers little hope that much will actually change in ...
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AnalysisPOGO: F-35 “Deal” Unlikely to Result in Savings
Lockheed Martin hasn’t yet completed the development process for the F-35 program. Despite the phony combat readiness declarations by the Marine Corps and the Air Force, the F-35 is still incapable of performing nearly all combat missions it is intended to perform.
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AnalysisForeign Lobbying Revolving Door Closed? Not Quite
President Trump’s Executive Order banning those in his administration from going on to become foreign lobbyists under the Foreign Agents Registration Act does not fully address the revolving door between public service and foreign influence.
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AnalysisGovernment Financials a Mess, Improper Payments Rise Again
The Government Accountability Office released its financial audit of the federal government for fiscal year 2016, again unable to provide an opinion due to long-standing deficiencies and citing concerns regarding improper payments.
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AnalysisGovernment Gag Orders Put Public at Risk
If the White House is issuing gag orders to prevent employees at federal agencies from communicating with Congress and the public, it could be illegal and represent a serious threat to public health and safety.
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AnalysisHeather Wilson’s Past Raises Questions on Appointment for Air Force Secretary
Heather Wilson's nomination to be Air Force Secretary is concerning due to her past employment with several nuclear laboratories, and the Senate should ensure that her ties to these labs and the contractors running them will not influence her decision-making.
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AnalysisTSA Found to be Abusing Pseudo-Classification System (Again)
An Inspector General report has found that the TSA is abusing its pseudo-classification system and “cannot be trusted to administer the program.”