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Press Release

Congress Should Reject Abend’s Nomination to Be DOD IG

Jason Abend is not qualified to lead one of the largest inspector general offices in the government.

WASHINGTON—The Project On Government Oversight (POGO) opposes the confirmation of Jason Abend to be the next inspector general for the Pentagon.

Abend lacks the management and leadership experience necessary to run one of the most important inspector general offices in the federal government. It’s an extraordinarily challenging position that should go to the most qualified candidates.

“I cannot overstate just how crucial it is that Congress approve only the most qualified candidates to serve in this position,” said Danielle Brian, executive director of POGO. “At a time when the independence of inspectors general is under siege by the White House, it is extremely important for Congress to confirm only nominees who have clearly demonstrated the ability to lead and maintain their independence under pressure. Jason Abend has not yet had the sufficient opportunity to prove his independence and management skills, so he is ill-suited to run an inspector general office of such a massive size and scope.”

While Abend does have experience as a government investigator, having spent several years as an agent in the inspector general offices at the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Federal Housing Finance Agency, he has not held a senior leadership role in an inspector general office. He would be better suited to start as an inspector general at a smaller agency before leading one of the largest inspector general offices in the government.

Media Contacts:Danielle Brian, Executive Director at the Project On Government Oversight, [email protected]; or Caitlin MacNeal, Media Relations Manager at POGO, [email protected]

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Founded in 1981, the Project On Government Oversight (POGO) is a nonpartisan independent watchdog that investigates and exposes waste, corruption, abuse of power, and when the government fails to serve the public or silences those who report wrongdoing.

We champion reforms to achieve a more effective, ethical, and accountable federal government that safeguards constitutional principles.