http://www.pogo.org An RSS feed for http://www.pogo.org/blog Convio Content Management System Module en-us pogo_bloghttp://feedburner.google.com www.pogo.org-432723072 http://www.pogo.org/blog/2013/05/hagel-orders-pentagon-to-buy-new-software-for-health-records.html Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel has ordered the Pentagon to buy a new healthcare management system to better communicate with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), according to an article in The Washington Post. Thu, 23 May 2013 09:08:31 -0500 www.pogo.org-432540664 http://www.pogo.org/blog/2013/05/justices-seizure-of-aps-phone-records-threatens-press-freedom.html The Justice Department’s seizure of records for 20 phone lines of Associated Press reporters and editors is only the latest in a continued attack on press freedoms, according to POGO Executive Director Danielle Brian. Wed, 22 May 2013 15:25:23 -0500 www.pogo.org-432531058 http://www.pogo.org/blog/2013/05/20130522-new-data-act-has-fewer-bells-but-brighter-future.html As both the House and Senate introduce new drafts of the DATA Act, the time could be ripe for real reform to federal spending transparency. Wed, 22 May 2013 14:54:46 -0500 www.pogo.org-432204700 http://www.pogo.org/blog/2013/05/memo-leaked-to-retaliatd-against-fast-and-furious-whistleblower.html A former top federal prosecutor leaked an internal memo to retaliate against the lead whistleblower in the Fast and Furious gun-smuggling scandal, according to an article in the Los Angeles Times. Tue, 21 May 2013 10:25:32 -0500 www.pogo.org-432005522 http://www.pogo.org/blog/2013/05/20130520-doe-contracting-woes-continue.html The Department of Energy Inspector General found subcontract audit weaknesses with nine Management and Operating contractors. Subcontracts totaling nearly $1 billion had not been audited or were reviewed in a manner that did not meet audit standards, which can lead to waste and fraud of taxpayer dollars. Mon, 20 May 2013 15:26:43 -0500 www.pogo.org-431976099 http://www.pogo.org/blog/2013/05/camp-lejeune-finally-cleaning-its-act.html Nearly 30 years after the end of what is likely the worst water contamination in U.S. history, the cleanup of the site of the contamination is finally nearing an end, according to an article from the Associated Press. Mon, 20 May 2013 13:14:49 -0500 www.pogo.org-430884441 http://www.pogo.org/blog/2013/05/white-house-brings-back-bill-to-shield-journalists.html In the wake of the AP phone records scandal, the White House is reviving a bill that would protect journalists from revealing their sources, according to an article in the Los Angeles Times. Fri, 17 May 2013 09:14:07 -0500 www.pogo.org-430936682 http://www.pogo.org/blog/2013/05/doe-err-causes-contracting-redo.html Losing bidders will get a second shot to win a $23 billion contract with the National Nuclear Security Administration for work at the Y-12 and Pantex nuclear facilities because the NNSA “failed to make meaningful assessments” of the proposed cost savings of any of the original bids. Thu, 16 May 2013 13:36:30 -0500 www.pogo.org-430014543 http://www.pogo.org/blog/2013/05/taxpayers-could-foot-bill-for-frannie-mae-fraud-settlement.html Years after the government accused Fannie Mae of accounting fraud, are taxpayers being forced to pay the price? Thu, 16 May 2013 09:44:54 -0500 www.pogo.org-430626688 http://www.pogo.org/blog/2013/05/ten-questions-that-usaspending-gov-cant-answer.html USASpending.gov is supposed to be a hub for citizens to find information about government spending, but it comes up short when trying to answer some key questions. Wed, 15 May 2013 13:47:25 -0500 www.pogo.org-430624077 http://www.pogo.org/blog/2013/05/usaspendinggov-not-your-one-stop-shop-for-following-taxpayer-dollars.html USASpending.gov is a federal spending information website that is riddled with errors and gaps in information, making it impossible to follow taxpayer dollars. Wed, 15 May 2013 13:46:07 -0500 www.pogo.org-430562631 http://www.pogo.org/blog/2013/05/ap-case-throws-more-doubt-on-obamas-whistleblower-policies.html The news that the Justice Department reviewed a broad range of Associated Press phone records in an effort to track down a national security leak is yet another indication of the Obama administration’s overzealous prosecution of leakers and whistleblowers. Wed, 15 May 2013 09:39:08 -0500 www.pogo.org-430246376 http://www.pogo.org/blog/2013/05/the-whistleblower-who-wouldnt-go-away.html Seven years after publicly blasting the TSA, a former air marshal might finally be getting his job back Tue, 14 May 2013 09:41:00 -0500 www.pogo.org-429950975 http://www.pogo.org/blog/2013/05/the-ugly-end-of-the-largest-service-contract-in-US-history.html Dealings between KBR and the Army have gotten “very nasty” as the two try to close out the largest government services contract in U.S. history, according to an article in Federal Times. Mon, 13 May 2013 10:25:40 -0500 www.pogo.org-429105459 http://www.pogo.org/blog/2013/05/20130510-company-hit-by-chinese-hackers-still-a-trusted-fed-supplier.html U.S. defense contractor QinetiQ North America got picked clean by Chinese hackers, but the government still awards the company contracts. Fri, 10 May 2013 11:09:30 -0500 www.pogo.org-429084929 http://www.pogo.org/blog/2013/05/security-laws-must-include-transparency-and-accountability.html Any laws to expand the powers of the FBI in the wake of the Boston bombings should explicitly include transparency and accountability provisions, according to a new op-ed in The Atlantic by Bruce Schneier. Fri, 10 May 2013 09:40:30 -0500 www.pogo.org-428847963 http://www.pogo.org/blog/2013/05/20130509-y-12-protestors-exposed-security-failures-found-guilty-1.html Three protestors responsible for breaking into the Y-12 nuclear facility face up to 30 years in prison despite shining a spotlight on several security failures. Thu, 09 May 2013 15:15:13 -0500 www.pogo.org-428744811 http://www.pogo.org/blog/2013/05/watchdog-says-government-trying-to-silence-embarrassing-afghanistan-reports.html John Sopko, the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), says the government is trying to interfere with his independent investigations because his reports are embarrassing to the White House and Afghan President Hamid Karzai, according to an article in Politico. Thu, 09 May 2013 08:51:28 -0500 www.pogo.org-428272772 http://www.pogo.org/blog/2013/05/20130508-cell-phone-services-show-broken-buying-system.html OMB's Norman Dong provided details about a federal agency with 13 comparable phone service plans that appear to be wasting taxpayer dollars. Wed, 08 May 2013 09:15:52 -0500 www.pogo.org-428297081 http://www.pogo.org/blog/2013/05/va-medical-construction-over.html The Department of Veterans Affairs’ largest construction projects are, on average, $366 million over budget and almost three years behind schedule, the Government Accountability Office told Congress. Tue, 07 May 2013 16:24:30 -0500 www.pogo.org-428276716 http://www.pogo.org/blog/2013/05/20130507-transparency-on-oil-gas-coal-revenues-moving-forward.html The U.S. Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative decided that it will include oil, gas, and coal royalties on federal lands in it scope. Other revenues, resources, and lands are still up for discussion among members of industry, government, and civil society. Tue, 07 May 2013 15:42:32 -0500 www.pogo.org-428188763 http://www.pogo.org/blog/2013/05/20130507-if-at-first-you-dont-succeed-try-again-and-again.html For the fourth time since 2007, Congress will try to pass a measure that will prevent companies and individuals who owe taxes from being awarded federal contracts. Tue, 07 May 2013 09:35:00 -0500 www.pogo.org-426311679 http://www.pogo.org/blog/2013/04/for-whistleblowers-fraying-protection.html Ten years ago, advocates, funders, journalists and citizens gathered in an effort to champion the rights of whistleblowers. We saw a brighter future for truth-tellers, but sadly, ten years later, we fear that we may have, in fact, lost ground. Mon, 06 May 2013 12:23:54 -0500 www.pogo.org-427273205 http://www.pogo.org/blog/2013/05/20130503-are-illegal-foreclosures-trade-secrets.html Federal agencies are withholding information about the illegal foreclosure practices of mortgage companies from Members of Congress, relying on justifications that closely track those used to withhold documents from the general public under the Freedom of Information Act. Fri, 03 May 2013 12:58:05 -0500 www.pogo.org-426701907 http://www.pogo.org/blog/2013/05/rep-coffman-to-appropriators.html Rep. Mike Coffman sent a letter to the House Appropriations Committee and the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee asking them to replace sequestration with "responsible reductions to the defense budget." Wed, 01 May 2013 15:15:33 -0500 www.pogo.org-426298818 http://www.pogo.org/blog/2013/04/a-nun-a-house-painter-and-a-drifter-walk-into-a-nuclear-complex.html It sounds like the start of an absurd joke, but that’s what happened last summer at the Y-12 National Security Complex in Tennessee. Three peace activists broke into one of the most secure nuclear-weapons facilities in the U.S., often called the Fort Knox of Uranium. Tue, 30 Apr 2013 10:01:21 -0500 www.pogo.org-425982758 http://www.pogo.org/blog/2013/04/cia-used-bags-of-cash-to-buy-influence-in-afghanistan.html The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has been giving the office of Hamid Karzai, Afghanistan’s president, secret deliveries of cash for more than a decade, according to an article in The New York Times. Mon, 29 Apr 2013 10:20:26 -0500 www.pogo.org-425283411 http://www.pogo.org/blog/2013/04/20130426-still-fighting-to-expose-secret-law.html POGO joined an amicus brief written by the Electronic Privacy Information Center supporting The New York Times in its effort to obtain a memorandum written by the Department of Justice's Office of Legal Counsel regarding the legality of the targeted killing of individuals deemed to have ties to terrorism. Fri, 26 Apr 2013 09:25:59 -0500 www.pogo.org-425074200 http://www.pogo.org/blog/2013/04/20130426-afghanistan-incinerators-burn-money-not-trash.html The Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) found that the government wasted $5 million on an unused solid waste incineration system on Forward Operating Base Salerno. The base continues to dispose of its solid waste in dangerous open-air burn pits. Fri, 26 Apr 2013 08:50:43 -0500 www.pogo.org-425007501 http://www.pogo.org/blog/2013/04/another-former-lockheed-employee-takes-key-senate-job.html Another former Hill staffer with Lockheed Martin on their resume will fill the job of Republican staff director for the Senate Armed Services Committee, according to an article in ProPublica. Thu, 25 Apr 2013 14:59:21 -0500 www.pogo.org-424957424 http://www.pogo.org/blog/2013/04/feds-continue-to-pay-for-empty-bank-accounts.html The federal government will spend at least $890,000 this year on fees for empty bank accounts, according to an article in The Washington Post. Thu, 25 Apr 2013 09:47:29 -0500 www.pogo.org-424756049 http://www.pogo.org/blog/2013/04/20130425-presidents-2014-budget-has-contracting-theme.html The President's 2014 budget proposal includes proposals to improve the federal contracting system, which is a good start to save taxpayer dollars. Thu, 25 Apr 2013 08:51:45 -0500 www.pogo.org-424753867 http://www.pogo.org/blog/2013/04/10th-annual-ridenhour-prizes-honor-courageous-truth-telling.html The memory of Ron Ridenhour lives on in the prizes given in his name to those that exemplify courageous truth-telling. Wed, 24 Apr 2013 16:24:11 -0500 www.pogo.org-424631443 http://www.pogo.org/blog/2013/04/20130424-sec-taps-wall-street-lawyer.html The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced Monday that it has tapped a Wall Street lawyer, Andrew Ceresney, to police Wall Street. By relying so heavily on people with industry connections, the SEC can tangle itself in conflicts of interest. Wed, 24 Apr 2013 08:49:15 -0500 www.pogo.org-424347464 http://www.pogo.org/blog/2013/04/20130423-improving-skills-of-acquisition-workforce.html An April 16 GAO report indicates civilian agencies are having trouble training the acquisition workforce and determining if training investments are paying off, ultimately putting the government at risk of overspending on contracts and wasting taxpayer dollars. Tue, 23 Apr 2013 11:11:09 -0500 www.pogo.org-424324916 http://www.pogo.org/blog/2013/04/how-the-va-got-this-bad.html The spotlight of public scrutiny has turned to the staggering backlog of disability claims at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), but how did the backlog get this big? Tue, 23 Apr 2013 09:40:15 -0500 www.pogo.org-424034986 http://www.pogo.org/blog/2013/04/kerry-says-white-house-process-delaying-IG-nomination.html Secretary of State John Kerry says if it were up to him, the State Department would already have a permanent inspector general, a critical position that has been vacant for more than five years, but the delay is due to the White House’s vetting process. Mon, 22 Apr 2013 09:59:37 -0500 www.pogo.org-423415439 http://www.pogo.org/blog/2013/04/20130419-veterans-affairs-announces-plans-to-reduce-claims-backlog.html Responding to withering criticism, the VA says veterans who have been waiting a year or more for disability benefits will be bumped to the head of the line for eligibility determinations. Fri, 19 Apr 2013 15:31:35 -0500 www.pogo.org-423401575 http://www.pogo.org/blog/2013/04/20130419-white-house-takes-on-federal-vs-contractor-costs.html POGO supports the government's efforts to compare the cost of federal employees and contractors performing the same work because it currently lacks an effective way to compare the true costs when making hiring and contracting decisions. Fri, 19 Apr 2013 14:50:09 -0500 www.pogo.org-423327675 http://www.pogo.org/blog/2013/04/f-22s-make-three-precautionary-landing-in-japan.html In early April, three F-22 jets were forced to make “precautionary landings” at Kadena Air Base in Japan, according to an article in Defense Tech. Fri, 19 Apr 2013 09:55:45 -0500 www.pogo.org-423084359 http://www.pogo.org/blog/2013/04/20130418-obama-administration-grades-openness-performance-on-curve.html POGO takes a look at the Administration's self-assessment of its first year in the global Open Government Partnership. Implementation of the National Action Plan led to some encouraging steps forward, though these steps were not as bold as hoped. Thu, 18 Apr 2013 12:28:15 -0500 www.pogo.org-423034763 http://www.pogo.org/blog/2013/04/20130418-pogo-asks-defense-secretary-to-cut-b61-bomb-funding.html The cost of maintaining the B61 nuclear bomb program in Europe has increased yet again while questions regarding security and military efficacy remain unanswered. Thu, 18 Apr 2013 10:02:37 -0500 www.pogo.org-423036188 http://www.pogo.org/blog/2013/04/why-is-the-army-accepting-unfinished-apache-helicopters.html The Army has officially accepted seven Apache Guardian helicopters from Boeing despite the helicopters not have transmissions systems installed, according to an article in AOL Defense. Thu, 18 Apr 2013 09:31:38 -0500 www.pogo.org-422837044 http://www.pogo.org/blog/2013/04/war-on-whistleblowers-shows-heroes-pay-heavy-price.html After the Washington, D.C. screening of the new film War on Whistleblowers, a panel discussed some of the issues raised by the movie. Wed, 17 Apr 2013 15:35:43 -0500 www.pogo.org-422773662 http://www.pogo.org/blog/2013/04/20130417-foia-failings-continue.html POGO continues to struggle with FOIA requests for three letters sent to Energy Secretary Chu on the status of nuclear security across the weapons complex Wed, 17 Apr 2013 12:33:47 -0500 www.pogo.org-422772981 http://www.pogo.org/blog/2013/04/pentagon-budget-ignores-sequestration-relies-on-old-ideas.html President Obama’s budget request for the Department of Defense ignores the reality of the sequestration cuts and suggests old ideas to save money, according to an analysis by Winslow Wheeler. Wed, 17 Apr 2013 11:19:53 -0500 www.pogo.org-422510952 http://www.pogo.org/blog/2013/04/20130416-risk-of-irs-audit-declines-for-many-businesses.html The likelihood of companies that fall into the highest tax bracket being audited by the Internal Revenue Service is on the decline, according to a new report by the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse. Tue, 16 Apr 2013 14:41:16 -0500 www.pogo.org-422441220 http://www.pogo.org/blog/2013/04/house-votes-to-bar-tax-delinquent-contractors-but-not-individuals.html The House unanimously passed a bill to bar contractors who are behind on their taxes from receiving federal funds, according to an article in The Washington Post. Tue, 16 Apr 2013 09:37:45 -0500 www.pogo.org-422153961 http://www.pogo.org/blog/2013/04/new-navy-ship-suffers-minor-damage-from-fires-at-sea.html The newest littoral combat ship (LCS) caught fire twice during sea trials in the Gulf of Mexico, according to an article in Defense News. Mon, 15 Apr 2013 09:51:31 -0500 www.pogo.org-421507123 http://www.pogo.org/blog/2013/04/20130412-pentagon-math-hagel-and-the-presidents-budget.html Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel and other defense officials headed to the Hill this week to testify about the President’s Budget. Fri, 12 Apr 2013 15:10:19 -0500 www.pogo.org-421440698 http://www.pogo.org/blog/2013/04/20130412-budget-takes-on-contractor-compensation-cap.html Contractors are permitted to price or seek reimbursement from the government up to $763,029 in costs for each of their employees’ compensation packages. This is nearly twice the salary of the President of the United States. The President is calling for a reduction, and Congress is ready to act. Fri, 12 Apr 2013 11:56:04 -0500 www.pogo.org-421438044 http://www.pogo.org/blog/2013/04/20130412-the-benefits-of-bid-protests.html In his recent article "Bid Protests: The Costs Are Real, But the Benefits Outweigh Them" Daniel I. Gordon defends the U.S. bid protest system and argues that the benefits of the system can be enhanced though greater transparency in government procurements. Fri, 12 Apr 2013 10:23:23 -0500 www.pogo.org-421426305 http://www.pogo.org/blog/2013/04/air-force-budget-seeks-to-buy-more-f-35s-reduce-ranks.html The 2014 budget request from the Air Force includes funding for 19 additional F-35 fighter jets and cuts active-duty personnel by 1,900 airmen, according to an article in DoD Buzz. Fri, 12 Apr 2013 10:02:55 -0500 www.pogo.org-421138765 http://www.pogo.org/blog/2013/04/government-wasting-tens-of-billions-through-duplicative-programs.html Duplicative programs from catfish inspections to foreign-language support are causing the federal government to waste tens of billions of dollars a year, according to a new report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO). Thu, 11 Apr 2013 09:40:36 -0500 www.pogo.org-420881958 http://www.pogo.org/blog/2013/04/budget-breakdown-rolling-analysis-of-obamas-fy-2014-budget.html POGO Staff analyze the President's FY 2014 budget for funding for key defense programs, watchdog offices, nuclear facilities, and other areas POGO investigates. Wed, 10 Apr 2013 16:45:00 -0500 www.pogo.org-420915884 http://www.pogo.org/blog/2013/04/20130410-defense-contracting-competition-in-free-fall.html Although the Department of Defense has recently been making a concerted effort to increase competition in its acquisition of goods and services, a new GAO report finds that competition in defense contracting has been in steady decline over the last 5 years. Wed, 10 Apr 2013 14:40:41 -0500 www.pogo.org-420874285 http://www.pogo.org/blog/2013/04/participate-in-extractive-industries-transparency-meeting.html Tomorrow the U.S. Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative will meet for the second time and the public is encouraged to call in to listen to the meeting and speak during the public remarks section. Wed, 10 Apr 2013 11:09:49 -0500 www.pogo.org-420851199 http://www.pogo.org/blog/2013/04/powerful-firm-becomes-second-home-for-financial-regulators.html Promontory Financial Group, a consulting firm, has become a powerful player in the financial regulatory world partially because nearly two-thirds of the company’s senior executives came from financial regulatory agencies, according to The New York Times. Wed, 10 Apr 2013 09:16:02 -0500 www.pogo.org-420605073 http://www.pogo.org/blog/2013/04/20130409-mox-costs-spiral-further-out-of-control.html The much beleaguered Mixed Oxide Fuel Fabrication Facility (MOX) has increased in cost to $7.7 billion dollars, making this unnecessary facility 381 percent over it's original budget. Tue, 09 Apr 2013 13:04:33 -0500 www.pogo.org-420555699 http://www.pogo.org/blog/2013/04/former-nuclear-regulator-says-all-reactors-have-unfixable-flaw.html A major safety problem in all 104 nuclear power reactors in the U.S. cannot be fixed and must be replaced with newer technology, according to Gregory Jaczko, the former chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Tue, 09 Apr 2013 10:10:11 -0500 www.pogo.org-419626784 http://www.pogo.org/blog/2013/04/20130406-hagel-may-be-a-secretary-of-defense-reforms.html Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel seems prepared to do something about the Pentagon’s bloated budget. Sat, 06 Apr 2013 06:03:54 -0500 www.pogo.org-419542952 http://www.pogo.org/blog/2013/04/when-over-classification-starts-wars.html A new series of blog posts over on Defusing the Nuclear Threat is highlighting how over-classification of documents can not only be wasteful, but dangerous. Fri, 05 Apr 2013 09:52:41 -0500 www.pogo.org-419342203 http://www.pogo.org/blog/2013/04/20130404-fluor-pays-11m-to-settle-hanford-false-claims-case.html Department of Energy contractor Fluor paid $1.1 million to settle a whistleblower lawsuit accusing the company of violating the False Claims Act by improperly using federal funds for lobbying. Thu, 04 Apr 2013 15:34:52 -0500 www.pogo.org-419250860 http://www.pogo.org/blog/2013/04/dod-inspector-general-finds-900-million-spare-part-stockpile.html The Army bought nearly $900 million worth of spare parts for the Stryker armored fighting vehicle even as the parts became obsolete or unnecessary, according to a report by the Defense Department Office of Inspector General. Thu, 04 Apr 2013 09:39:32 -0500 www.pogo.org-419053874 http://www.pogo.org/blog/2013/04/20130403-pogo-joins-amicus-brief-to-fight-for-sunshing.html POGO recently joined in a “friend of the court” brief supporting the Electronic Frontier Foundation in its attempt to compel the government to release an Office of Legal Counsel memorandum and to stem the growth of a vast body of secret law. Thu, 04 Apr 2013 08:30:43 -0500 www.pogo.org-419026029 http://www.pogo.org/blog/2013/04/energy-ig-pushes-to-consolidate-nuclear-labs-again.html Department of Energy Inspector General once again recommends establishing a commission to assess and consolidate nuclear labs around the country. Wed, 03 Apr 2013 14:13:38 -0500 www.pogo.org-419024566 http://www.pogo.org/blog/2013/04/20130403-army-corps-stands-by-sweetheart-deal-with-DynCorp.html The Army Corps of Engineers stands by its decision to allow DynCorp International to walk away from a botched construction job in Afghanistan. Wed, 03 Apr 2013 13:28:35 -0500 www.pogo.org-418705579 http://www.pogo.org/blog/2013/04/former-sec-chief-finds-consulting-firm-through-revolving-door.html Mary Schapiro, the former head of the Securities and Exchange Commission, is joining Promontory Financial Group LLC, a major private consulting firm stocked with former regulators, according to an article in The Hill. Tue, 02 Apr 2013 09:51:50 -0500 www.pogo.org-418468459 http://www.pogo.org/blog/2013/04/stock-trading-heading-to-dark-pools-to-avoid-regulation.html An increasing amount of stocks are being traded in private dark pools away from public scrutiny and government regulation, according to an article in The New York Times. Mon, 01 Apr 2013 11:13:38 -0500 www.pogo.org-417507095 http://www.pogo.org/blog/2013/03/20130328-va-healthcare-system-failing-study-says.html Military veterans experience “excessive wait time” for medical care, leading to higher incidences of preventable hospitalizations and death, according to the Institute of Medicine. Fri, 29 Mar 2013 09:24:32 -0500 www.pogo.org-417517248 http://www.pogo.org/blog/2013/03/dojs-breuer-goes-back-through-the-revolving-door.html The head of the Department of Justice's (DOJ) criminal division is returning to the private sector as a vice chairman of a major law firm, according to an article in DealBook. Thu, 28 Mar 2013 14:11:14 -0500 www.pogo.org-417488310 http://www.pogo.org/blog/2013/03/20130328-doe-watchdog-sniffs-out-more-waste-at-national-labs.html In a new report, the Department of Energy Office of Inspector General found that the agency had improperly awarded salary increases for several executive employees of the contractor overseeing cleanup at the Oak Ridge nuclear facility. Thu, 28 Mar 2013 12:22:43 -0500 www.pogo.org-417473591 http://www.pogo.org/blog/2013/03/20130328-sec-stands-firm-as-industry-tries-to-undo-transparency-law.html As natural resources companies wage a legal battle against a new regulation that calls for more revenue reporting, the Securities and Exchange Commission has stood its ground, firmly rejecting industry’s anti-transparency arguments. Thu, 28 Mar 2013 12:08:00 -0500 www.pogo.org-417451079 http://www.pogo.org/blog/2013/03/jon-stewart-tears-into-criminal-va-backlog.html On Wednesday’s episode of The Daily Show, Jon Stewart decried the extremely long wait times veterans are facing for their disability claims and medical appointments despite an increase in funding to the Department of Veterans Affairs. Thu, 28 Mar 2013 09:57:49 -0500 www.pogo.org-417208817 http://www.pogo.org/blog/2013/03/20130327-time-to-get-serious-about-trafficking-in-persons.html POGO has urged the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council to implement the strongest possible prohibitions on trafficking in persons (TIP), but you can help fight human trafficking too. Wed, 27 Mar 2013 13:11:17 -0500 www.pogo.org-417138062 http://www.pogo.org/blog/2013/03/flashy-f-35-press-release-misses-landing.html The Marines issued a flashy press release last week: “first operational F-35B conducts initial Vertical Landing.” It was an amateurish, somewhat slimy piece of hype. Wed, 27 Mar 2013 09:46:12 -0500 www.pogo.org-416822599 http://www.pogo.org/blog/2013/03/20130326-inspectors-general-get-much-needed-attention-in-senate.html The investigative role of Inspectors General (IGs) would be strengthened in the Senate's new budget proposal. Tue, 26 Mar 2013 15:07:05 -0500 www.pogo.org-416797626 http://www.pogo.org/blog/2013/03/20130326-open-government-legislation-moves-in-the-house.html Last week 13 bills that cover issues from security to freedom of information were passed with extraordinary bipartisanship by the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. Tue, 26 Mar 2013 14:08:42 -0500 www.pogo.org-416708287 http://www.pogo.org/blog/2013/03/missile-defense-system-that-wont-die.html Army brass and the Senate have said they don’t want Lockheed Martin’s latest missile defense system, but the government is going to pay for it anyway, according to an article in DOD Buzz. Tue, 26 Mar 2013 10:02:15 -0500 www.pogo.org-416412584 http://www.pogo.org/blog/2013/03/senate-intelligence-panel-moving-toward-transparency.html In a welcome move, the Senate Intelligence Committee said they will release information on how individual senators vote on measures and nominations before the committee, according to an article in Roll Call. Mon, 25 Mar 2013 09:16:14 -0500 www.pogo.org-415766009 http://www.pogo.org/blog/2013/03/retire-today-do-the-same-job-for-more-pay-tomorrow.html The Department of Energy (DOE) Inspector General (IG) released an inspection report detailing prime contractor employees who retire and then go to work as a subcontractor doing the same work in the same office but at a higher salary, which might not be good for taxpayers. Fri, 22 Mar 2013 13:49:11 -0500 www.pogo.org-415696100 http://www.pogo.org/blog/2013/03/fda-to-tighten-regulations-on-defibrillators.html After 45,000 malfunctions and 88 recalls since 2005, the Food and Drug Administration is seeking tougher regulations on the heart defibrillator industry, according to an article in The New York Times. Fri, 22 Mar 2013 09:54:02 -0500 www.pogo.org-415436785 http://www.pogo.org/blog/2013/03/big-businesses-offer-revolving-door-rewards.html Major corporations are making it financially advantageous for executives to take government jobs, according to a new article by the Project On Government Oversight that reviewed regulatory filings from major Wall Street firms. Thu, 21 Mar 2013 10:54:08 -0500 www.pogo.org-415406940 http://www.pogo.org/blog/2013/03/va-backlog-is-huge-and-records-are-unreliable.html As many as hundreds of thousands of veterans could be in the Department of Veteran Affairs backlog waiting for medical appointments, David Hilzenrath, the Project On Government Oversight’s editor-in-chief, said on Public News Service today. Thu, 21 Mar 2013 09:13:22 -0500 www.pogo.org-415195989 http://www.pogo.org/blog/2013/03/20130320-irs-threatens-to-weaken-whistleblower-protections.html The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has proposed regulations that would “hamstring” its whistleblower program, according to Senator Charles Grassley (R-IA), a longtime champion of whistleblowers. Wed, 20 Mar 2013 15:00:28 -0500 www.pogo.org-414872788 http://www.pogo.org/blog/2013/03/20130319-exploring-the-experiences-of-inspectors-general.html Matthew Harris, University of Maryland University College, explores the experiences, challenges, and recommendations of 18 Inspectors General in his doctorate dissertation. Tue, 19 Mar 2013 09:39:27 -0500 www.pogo.org-414867269 http://www.pogo.org/blog/2013/03/20130319-watchdogs-not-immune-from-sequestration-cuts.html Inspectors General face budget cuts as a result of sequestration, raising questions about how the abilities of IGs to conduct investigations and audits to uncover waste, fraud, and abuse in their agencies will be impacted. Tue, 19 Mar 2013 09:05:56 -0500 www.pogo.org-413951808 http://www.pogo.org/blog/2013/03/20130315-shining-a-light-on-foia-practices.html In celebration of Sunshine Week, a number of organizations released studies of Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests that indicate how government agencies measured up in terms of providing information to the public in 2012. Fri, 15 Mar 2013 17:26:10 -0500 www.pogo.org-413941888 http://www.pogo.org/blog/2013/03/20130316-lessons-of-watergate-scandal-still-resonate.html Over the last 40 years, the Watergate scandal has been dissected every which way, but the lessons learned continue to shape our politics and legislation to this day. Fri, 15 Mar 2013 15:33:33 -0500 www.pogo.org-413935830 http://www.pogo.org/blog/2013/03/20130315-measuring-performance-and-future-potential-of-foiaonline.html FOIAonline may revolutionize the way the public accesses government information, but first, more agencies need to buy into the system. Fri, 15 Mar 2013 14:58:22 -0500 www.pogo.org-413905292 http://www.pogo.org/blog/2013/03/20130315-Data-Missing-on-the-Size-and-Cost-of-the-Contractor-Workforce.html Access to federal government data on the size and cost of the contractor workforce needs improvement. Agencies still don't collect the data needed to understand the financial burden of millions of government and contractor workers. Fri, 15 Mar 2013 13:46:16 -0500 www.pogo.org-413702850 http://www.pogo.org/blog/2013/03/20130314-veterans-wait-for-care-va-allegedly-obscures-delays.html By altering dates logged, Department of Veterans Affairs employees minimize reported wait times for veterans' medical appointments, the GAO says. Thu, 14 Mar 2013 16:25:36 -0500 www.pogo.org-413668369 http://www.pogo.org/blog/2013/03/20130314-its-not-as-sunny-as-we-would-like.html During Sunshine Week, POGO's Director of Public Policy testified before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee on transparency, accountability, and unchecked secrecy in the growing national security state. Thu, 14 Mar 2013 15:15:55 -0500 www.pogo.org-413635897 http://www.pogo.org/blog/2013/03/20130314-pogo-celebrates-sunshine-week-with-expanded-fcmd.html POGO updates its Federal Contractor Misconduct Database with 12 new contractors and a new top 100 federal contractor ranking. Thu, 14 Mar 2013 12:50:52 -0500 www.pogo.org-413456850 http://www.pogo.org/blog/2013/03/va-hid-evidence-of-toxin.html The Department of Veterans Affairs has suppressed evidence that Gulf War veterans’ health problems could be linked to their exposure to toxic substances during the 1991 war, a former VA epidemiologist alleges. Wed, 13 Mar 2013 18:46:36 -0500 www.pogo.org-413334575 http://www.pogo.org/blog/2013/03/20130313-bipartisan-bill-aims-to-modernize-FOIA.html A draft bipartisan bill announced on Tuesday would “mandate a single online portal for all Freedom of Information Act requests across government,” according to an article in NextGov. Wed, 13 Mar 2013 09:37:07 -0500 www.pogo.org-413167539 http://www.pogo.org/blog/2013/03/20130313-prospective-sec-chairman-dismisses-revolving-door-concerns.html Mary Jo White—Obama’s nominee for chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission—said at her confirmation hearing that the public need not worry about her history of defending companies from the government. But her explanation was less than reassuring. Tue, 12 Mar 2013 18:02:54 -0500 www.pogo.org-413133417 http://www.pogo.org/blog/2013/03/20130312-a-look-at-obamas-transparency-record.html OpenTheGovernment.org released a report today that looks at the steps President Obama’s administration has taken to create a more open government. Tue, 12 Mar 2013 14:45:37 -0500 www.pogo.org-412802511 http://www.pogo.org/blog/2013/03/20130311-video-join-pogo-in-celebrating-sunshine-week.html Watch the video with POGO's Danielle Brian to get caught up on the big open government victories from last year and some of the challenges ahead. Tue, 12 Mar 2013 08:59:43 -0500 www.pogo.org-412933105 http://www.pogo.org/blog/2013/03/20130311-why-congress-should-be-wary-of-mary-jo-white.html Is Mary Jo White—President Obama’s nominee to head the Securities and Exchange Commission—an intrepid enforcer who will hold Wall Street accountable? Or will she look out for the financial industry she used to represent? Mon, 11 Mar 2013 20:47:03 -0500