Newsletter

Weekly Spotlight: A Barrage of Conflicts

While recent public discourse focused on conflicts of interest that President-Elect Donald Trump will bring with him to the Oval Office when sworn in, another conflict-of-interest situation was flying under the radar.

Weekly Spotlight logo

Delivered to our subscribers on Saturdays, the Weekly Spotlight is a roundup of POGO's latest work and announcements. Sign up to get this newsletter delivered to your inbox.


While recent public discourse focused on conflicts of interest that President-Elect Donald Trump will bring with him to the Oval Office when sworn in, another conflict-of-interest situation was flying under the radar.

A new report found that more than two dozen members of Congress outperformed the stock market last year.

The report also pinpointed several instances where members were trading stocks in industries adjacent to the committees they serve on — a glaring red flag of conflicts of interest.

The incoming administration adds more cause for concern, with several of Trump’s cabinet nominees having eyebrow-raising conflicts in industries they’ll have sway over as agency heads.

You should be able to have confidence that lawmakers and the president aren’t making policy decisions with their portfolios and assets top of mind. We’re working to reduce these conflicts of interest across the federal government so you can trust that your elected officials are prioritizing your best interests rather than their own.


INVESTIGATION

CBP Replaces Top Doctor Accused of Misconduct

Moves come as concerns over medical services persist and as incoming administration pledges tougher border enforcement.

Read More


ANALYSIS

The Bridge: The House Always Wins

(And the Senate, too)

Read More


QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“There are quite a few ethics and conflict of interest laws that will apply to [Elon Musk], It will take a lot of self-policing as well as a strong ethics officer to make sure he doesn’t cross the line.”

Scott Amey, General Counsel, in USA Today


OVERHEARD