POGOBlog

POGO Identifies Defense Contractors Recently Sanctioned for Human Trafficking Abuses

Tue, 21 Aug 2018 14:28:22 -0500

A new government report on human trafficking omits the names of companies accused of abusive labor practices. Some sleuthing uncovered the identity of two companies: both are U.S. defense contractors, and one has a particularly unsavory history.

Weaponizing Security Clearances Is Unacceptable, Whether CIA Directors are the Victims or Perpetrators

Fri, 17 Aug 2018 17:03:33 -0500

Executive agencies regularly use their classification powers to avoid oversight or accountability for embarrassing or unlawful conduct. Congress needs to create enforceable protections against using the security clearance process for retaliation against whistleblowers and critics.

Passing Grade? Lessons Learned from the 2017 Disasters

Wed, 15 Aug 2018 15:41:58 -0500

A new Federal Emergency Management Agency report describes many “lessons learned” from last summer’s major natural disasters. However, FEMA and the nation are not yet adequately prepared for the next one.

As “Zero Tolerance” Cases Skyrocket, Other Prosecutions Slow

Tue, 14 Aug 2018 08:58:34 -0500

New data suggests that the Justice Department’s focus on misdemeanor prosecutions under “zero tolerance” has led to a dramatic decrease in prosecutions of serious crimes like drug trafficking and human smuggling.

Rating the Watchdogs: Are Our Inspectors General Effective?

Fri, 10 Aug 2018 13:10:46 -0500

New articles by Federal News Radio and Government Executive raise issues worthy of examination regarding the inspector general community, issues that are also addressed by POGO’s recent report on our nation’s federal watchdogs.

Army Carefully Considering Next Worldwide Logistics Contractors

Thu, 09 Aug 2018 14:55:03 -0500

After repeated contractor misconduct in past contracts, the U.S. Army deliberates over who to award the latest worldwide warfighters-support contract to.

Just Following Orders: Overdue Oversight and Unanswered Questions on Family Separations

Wed, 08 Aug 2018 10:39:03 -0500

Nearly three months after the Trump administration’s family separation policy began and over one month after a public outcry led to its end, Congress finally held its first hearing on the subject on July 31. It was a necessary step, but not nearly enough.

Paper Cuts: Thunderbolt of Journalism Reveals TSA “Quiet Skies” Surveillance Program

Fri, 03 Aug 2018 15:26:54 -0500

TSA documents describe a program that allows sky marshals to secretly monitor behavior of unsuspecting airplane passengers who have done nothing wrong.

Bad Contracting Decision Comes Back to Haunt Pentagon

Fri, 03 Aug 2018 15:08:46 -0500

The Pentagon is still suffering the consequences of hiring Efraim Diveroli, the Miami Beach military supplier whose exploits landed him in prison and inspired the film War Dogs. He recently won a long-running dispute with the government over canceled contracts to supply weapons to Iraqi security forces.

New Report Confirms Whistleblower Retaliation is Alive and Well at Department of Veterans Affairs

Wed, 01 Aug 2018 16:08:27 -0500

A new GAO report confirms POGO’s fears that the Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protections lacks adequate independence.

Explaining Secret Surveillance

Wed, 25 Jul 2018 15:53:53 -0500

Americans are dangerously vulnerable to unchecked FISA surveillance, but the discussion of the Carter Page warrant misses the real problem.

Paper Cuts: From Russia with Love

Tue, 24 Jul 2018 15:57:51 -0500

The Justice Department’s charging documents on Russian election interference read like a real-life spy novel.

Racial Discrimination in the Courts: The Case of Marcus Robinson

Tue, 24 Jul 2018 15:22:45 -0500

Racial discrimination in jury selection threatens the criminal justice system and the integrity and application of the Constitution. In one case, North Carolina seeks to ignore it.

27 and Counting: Another Background-Check “Dumper” Pleads Guilty

Tue, 24 Jul 2018 13:59:51 -0500

Last week, a former contractor pleaded guilty to falsifying federal security clearance investigations—the twenty-seventh such conviction in 10 years.

“Zero Tolerance” and Border Crisis Need Congressional Oversight

Mon, 23 Jul 2018 10:35:25 -0500

POGO is calling on the Senate Judiciary Committee to begin an investigation into the crisis of immigration enforcement and detention along our nation’s southwest border.

POGO’s Suggestions to Congress: Oversight to Counter Foreign Interference

Fri, 20 Jul 2018 15:46:45 -0500

Members of Congress expressing disapproval of President Trump’s comments in Helsinki about Russian election interference can and should also conduct oversight of eight issue areas relating to foreign interference in our democratic systems.

FCC Chairman Throws a Wrench in Proposed Sinclair-Tribune Merger—At Least for Now

Thu, 19 Jul 2018 11:05:41 -0500

The deal would make Sinclair an unparalleled local-television behemoth.

Paper Cuts: No Match for Mother’s Milk

Fri, 13 Jul 2018 11:35:49 -0500

Baby-food makers latch on to breastfeeding policy to sell formula.

Chamber Music: Corporations Attain Harmony with Federal Corruption Laws

Wed, 11 Jul 2018 10:28:56 -0500

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce lately seems to have softened its longstanding opposition to the False Claims Act and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, the federal government’s most powerful tools for deterring corporate corruption and protecting taxpayer money.

Privacy After Carpenter: We Need Warrants for Real-Time Tracking and “Electronic Exhaustion”

Mon, 02 Jul 2018 11:39:40 -0500

The Supreme Court’s Carpenter decision greatly expanded location privacy rights, but serious problems remain. Congress should act swiftly to enact a warrant requirement for real-time cellphone tracking and create “electronic exhaustion.”

ICE Detention Center Inspections Repeatedly Fall Short

Fri, 29 Jun 2018 14:43:15 -0500

ICE inspections of detention centers are ineffective and infrequent, and “certain deficiencies remain unaddressed for years.”

The Carpenter Decision: A Huge Step Forward for Privacy Rights but Major Problems Remain

Thu, 28 Jun 2018 10:57:02 -0500

The Supreme Court's decision in Carpenter v. United States will create significant privacy protections, and lays the foundation for how the Fourth Amendment will function in the digital age. However, significant issues remain.

Those 5-to-4 decisions on the Supreme Court? 9 to 0 is far more common.

Thu, 28 Jun 2018 09:40:03 -0500

Splits get all the attention, but consensus is the rule, and that's how it should be.

Paper Cuts: How Can I Contact My Daughter?

Wed, 27 Jun 2018 11:43:23 -0500

As the government tries to undo the damage from its zero tolerance policy, parents in custody wait and wonder how to contact their kids.

Frequently Asked Questions: Criminal Prosecutions on the Border

Fri, 22 Jun 2018 15:51:06 -0500

Zero-tolerance prosecutions on the southwest border are undermining key constitutional protections.

Paper Cuts: Trump Foundation—Charity Begins at Home

Wed, 20 Jun 2018 15:56:23 -0500

New York State’s two-year investigation into Trump Foundation financial abuses was referred to IRS.

Symposium: Clear Regulations Protect Freedom, Not Restrict It

Tue, 19 Jun 2018 12:21:27 -0500

Elizabeth Warren and others spoke at a recent Coalition for Sensible Safeguards event on the Trump Administration’s deregulation policies and the impact they have on health and finances.

House Members Stand Up to Bad Executive Orders, Stand Up for Federal Workers

Mon, 18 Jun 2018 15:49:52 -0500

House Republicans and Democrats sent President Trump separate letters condemning recent executive orders that weaken civil service protection laws and put a bullseye on the backs of whistleblowers.

Not the Final Word

Fri, 15 Jun 2018 14:56:50 -0500

The plain fact is that OLC, responsive to its own institutional incentives, sometimes gets things wrong.

Congress, Don't Rubber-Stamp Executive War Power Overreach

Fri, 15 Jun 2018 09:53:39 -0500

For too long, Congress has abdicated its constitutional duties to declare war.

Justice Department Threatens Investigation of Investigation (of Investigation)

Wed, 13 Jun 2018 15:14:35 -0500

Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein reportedly threatened to ask the House of Representatives’ top lawyers to investigate the House Intelligence Committee. It’s a confusing idea. Here’s why.

Paper Cuts: Slow Stroll to Salad Safety

Wed, 13 Jun 2018 11:00:22 -0500

A food safety regulation to prevent contamination of fresh fruits and vegetables still has not been implemented after seven years.

About Those Excessive Federal Contractor Salaries…

Tue, 12 Jun 2018 15:49:58 -0500

While it can be helpful to call attention to the exorbitant compensation federal contractors pay their executives, there are other problems in the contracting system that must be addressed.

Who Should Make a Decision on Life and Death?

Mon, 11 Jun 2018 14:01:11 -0500

Missouri is flouting the Supreme Court's ruling on jury decision-making in death penalty cases. But will the high court rein it in?

A Dangerous Escalation in “The War on Leaks”

Fri, 08 Jun 2018 17:18:15 -0500

During an investigation into leaks from a Senate Intelligence Committee staffer, the Justice Department went after journalist Ali Watkins’ data—seizing years of records related to her email accounts and phone number, according to a letter Justice sent to Watkins.

Paper Cuts: Orphaned Parents

Fri, 08 Jun 2018 11:56:01 -0500

Court documents shed light on the impact of separating children and parents at the border.

Patient Advocates Get Big Funding from Big Pharma

Fri, 08 Jun 2018 09:27:41 -0500

Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO) introduced legislation compelling patient advocacy groups to report funding they receive from pharmaceutical companies. This added transparency will give the public a new lens through which to view actions of these groups.

Tech Giants Play the DC Influence Game to Win Pentagon Cloud Deal

Tue, 05 Jun 2018 15:49:46 -0500

The companies vying for the Defense Department’s massive, winner-take-all JEDI cloud contract are sparing no expense when it comes to spreading influence around Washington.

Congress Taking Aim at Waste and Fraud

Fri, 01 Jun 2018 13:11:03 -0500

Last week, a bipartisan group of Senators introduced legislation that takes aim at the billions of dollars in improper payments made annually by federal agencies. The “Payment Integrity Information Act of 2018” would update and strengthen current laws that require federal agencies to estimate, detect, prevent, and recover payments made in error or in the wrong amount.

Recommendations for Disaster Response and Recovery

Fri, 01 Jun 2018 12:08:50 -0500

The 2017 disasters were tragic, but they provide an opportunity to learn how to better prepare for future disasters. Here is a rundown of recent POGO blogs, articles, and testimony on the topic.

The Difference Between Law and Justice

Tue, 29 May 2018 11:13:55 -0500

On May 13, POGO Board Member and former Member of Congress Mickey Edwards addressed the graduating class of the Oklahoma City University School of Law, encouraging the graduates to evaluate just and unjust laws with compassion.

Paper Cuts: ZTE’s Action Plan for Smuggling Banned Tech to Iran

Fri, 25 May 2018 13:32:05 -0500

Paper Cuts examines the questionable trading history of the controversial Chinese phone company at the center of the President’s recent tweets.

ICE Backs Down on “Extreme Vetting” Automated Social Media Scanning

Wed, 23 May 2018 12:23:52 -0500

In a major victory for civil rights and civil liberties advocates, ICE has shut down its plan to include unreliable automated social media scanning as part of an “Extreme Vetting” program. However ICE’s plans for Extreme Vetting are still problematic, especially its plan to employ a quota system for monitoring rather than an objective standard for establishing threats.

A Q&A with the NSA’s Internal Watchdog

Tue, 22 May 2018 14:53:04 -0500

POGO talks with the NSA’s first independently-appointed Inspector General.

How Zinke’s Interior Department Has Impeded Oversight

Tue, 22 May 2018 14:18:16 -0500

Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke and his aides often disregard, and perhaps even attempt to evade, oversight and accountability

Enhanced Evasion Techniques

Mon, 21 May 2018 14:41:15 -0500

As Gina Haspel assumes office, we have no reason to trust that she will oppose abuses of the CIA’s covert action powers, or preserve evidence that reflects badly on the CIA or the White House.

Paper Cuts: Cashing in on Connections

Thu, 17 May 2018 07:14:12 -0500

What may be most shocking of all is, current laws regulating lobbying are so painfully weak that Cohen’s potential influence-peddling may have been legal.

Why Congressional Inquiries Trump Federal Investigations

Fri, 11 May 2018 12:43:12 -0500

When the Justice Department shared former FBI Director James Comey’s Trump-related memos with Congress, executive branch defenders were outraged. They’re wrong, and here’s why.

Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing (or a Scientist’s Lab Coat)

Fri, 11 May 2018 08:00:04 -0500

The EPA’s claims its new science policy will increase transparency, but it will actually severely limit the scientific information the agency can use to keep the public safe.

Paper Cuts: Blankenship’s Battles

Mon, 07 May 2018 11:06:26 -0500

There are tens of thousands of documents that could tell the storied history of rags-to-riches, up-from-the-hollow U.S. Senate candidate and lifelong coal baron Don Blankenship. But you really only need to look at one sheet of paper with a long list of names.

How House Intel Committee’s Russia Investigation Turned into a Cautionary Tale

Wed, 02 May 2018 15:47:20 -0500

We must learn from the failings of the House Intelligence Committee’s Russia investigation to make future oversight efforts better.

Regulatory Foes Try to Seize the Day

Wed, 25 Apr 2018 13:44:19 -0500

A bill that would further burden the regulatory process may make it to the Senate Floor.

Senate Report Details Major Disaster Response Contracting Failures

Mon, 23 Apr 2018 15:43:54 -0500

A recent report from the staff of Senator Claire McCaskill details many shortcomings of the state of FEMA disaster response contracting. If not corrected, these problems will impact future disaster response.

Public Interest Group Wins Legal Fees in Transparency Lawsuit

Wed, 18 Apr 2018 14:10:23 -0500

A California court recently ordered a contractor that tried to block the release of public records to pay the legal expenses of an organization that requested the records.

POGO’s Outsized Tax-Day Impact

Tue, 17 Apr 2018 15:01:51 -0500

Over the past 37 years, the Project On Government Oversight’s investigations have saved taxpayers billions of dollars.

Bad Actors Among Border Wall Contractors

Tue, 17 Apr 2018 11:20:56 -0500

Half of the six contractors that built border wall prototypes had questionable track records, including one contractor that the Army Corps of Engineers felt was too risky to do future business with.

What the Senate Needs to Ask Gina Haspel

Tue, 17 Apr 2018 10:30:21 -0500

A list of questions the Senate needs to ask CIA director nominee Gina Haspel about her role in torture and rendition.

The Citizenship Question: A Lot Riding on a Single Change in 2020 Census

Tue, 10 Apr 2018 10:58:24 -0500

The Trump Administration wants to add an untested question about citizenship to the 2020 census, but including it could reduce the accuracy of the data—data that we use to apportion Congressional seats to the states and to direct hundreds of billions in federal funds.

Three Key Reforms for Facial Recognition and Body Cameras

Fri, 06 Apr 2018 16:31:20 -0500

Police departments are moving forward with plans to incorporate real-time facial recognition in body cameras, creating serious risks to privacy and due process rights. Before adding facial recognition to body cameras, law enforcement should enact three critical safeguards.

Pruitt's Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

Fri, 06 Apr 2018 16:23:38 -0500

As ethics problems pile up, EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt should go.

Government Security Clearances Continue to Drop, Backlogs Remain

Wed, 04 Apr 2018 13:45:30 -0500

A new intelligence agency report found fewer government employees and contractors holding security clearances and a worsening backlog of pending security reviews. But the report omits key data, preventing a deeper dive into the findings.

Regulatory Rhetoric Meets Regulatory Research

Fri, 30 Mar 2018 11:31:36 -0500

Despite months of the President railing against regulations, a new government report concludes that benefits of regulations vastly outweigh the costs.

POGO Staff Visit Key Disaster Response Warehouse

Thu, 29 Mar 2018 12:42:38 -0500

On March 9th, POGO staff visited the Federal Emergency Management Agency disaster response warehouse located in Frederick, Maryland. The current network of warehouses delivers supplies to disaster victims, but recent disasters show the need to greatly increase the size of the stockpiles.

Shortsighted on Oversight

Mon, 26 Mar 2018 16:35:14 -0500

The President’s tweeted criticism of the Department of Justice Inspector General’s involvement in an investigation into possible wrongdoing by agency officials, and Congressional calls for an additional special counsel, show the need for more understanding of our nation’s independent government watchdogs.

Key Intel Whistleblower Official Fired as Spy Agencies Face Oversight Crisis

Thu, 22 Mar 2018 08:52:56 -0500

Whistleblower retaliation concerns have even infected the offices that are supposed to be a safe haven for those who report abuse in the Intelligence Community.

Short-Staffed: Vacancies Leave Life-Altering Oversight Work for Later

Tue, 20 Mar 2018 14:41:39 -0500

Several administrative review boards lack adequate membership to decide important questions of workers’ rights and surveillance oversight. As a result, workers can’t find relief and the American public is worse off.

Have We Kept Madison’s Republic?

Fri, 16 Mar 2018 14:30:39 -0500

Over 200 years ago, our Founding Fathers faced a question: How could they build a democracy to withstand the trials of time and survive the pressures that destroyed those that came before?

Homeland Security Hiring Contracts May Be More Trouble Than They're Worth, Again

Wed, 14 Mar 2018 10:11:37 -0500

ICE and Border Patrol plan to pay private companies hundreds of millions of dollars to help the agencies hire new employees.

Gina Haspel’s Troubling Role in the CIA Torture Program

Tue, 13 Mar 2018 16:21:04 -0500

President Trump’s nominee to head the CIA reportedly oversaw one of the agency’s black sites and helped destroy videos of interrogations there.

The Depressing Heroism of a Bipartisan Congressional Inquiry

Tue, 13 Mar 2018 13:04:04 -0500

A bipartisan letter from two Senators to the White House last month deserves greater attention—and praise. While it can seem that Congressional oversight is doomed to fail in this era of hyperpartisanship, the duo’s joint questions regarding clearance processes shows it only takes a little willingness and cooperation from both sides to ask the important questions and turn things around.

Defense Lobbying Ban Might Drain the Pentagon Swamp

Mon, 12 Mar 2018 14:47:00 -0500

The FY 2018 National Defense Authorization Act prohibits lobbying activities by certain Defense Department officials, which will slow down the revolving door and help drain the swamp.

The Modern Politics of American Whistleblowing

Mon, 12 Mar 2018 12:03:40 -0500

Whistleblowers are critical to journalists; their disclosures can inform the public and help hold the powerful accountable. They can reveal wrongdoing that government officials or corporate titans would rather keep under wraps.

POGO Lights Up for Sunshine Week

Mon, 12 Mar 2018 10:44:08 -0500

Every year during Sunshine Week, citizens across the country shine a light on the problems preventing Americans from enjoying the open government that they deserve.

Pentagon to Congress: You Can’t Stop Us from Fueling Saudi Arabia’s War in Yemen

Fri, 09 Mar 2018 16:02:16 -0600

The Defense Department is claiming—wrongly— that Congress cannot restrict the United States’ participation in Yemen’s civil war

Carl Icahn: A Conflict-of-Interest “Icon” for the Trump Era

Tue, 06 Mar 2018 11:44:27 -0600

Suspicious trades in the run-up to President Trump’s steel tariff announcement are just the latest potential conflict of interest involving the one-time White House advisor.

ICE is Giving Money Away Hand over Fist in Bizarre Contract

Thu, 01 Mar 2018 15:01:51 -0600

Immigration and Customs Enforcement is paying the city of Eloy, Arizona, half a million dollars a year for no good reason.

Election Security Needs to Begin Long Before Ballots Are Cast

Thu, 01 Mar 2018 09:45:11 -0600

Protecting our registration rolls from malicious hacking is critical to preserving the integrity of our election system, and needs to be a significant part of heightened efforts to increase election security.

Meet the Oil-Friendly Federal Panel that Could Give Drillers a Sweetheart Deal

Wed, 28 Feb 2018 13:58:45 -0600

The oil, gas and mining industry has six voting seats out of 20 on the panel, known as the Royalty Policy Committee, and they predictably advocate for paying the public less. But industry’s voice on the committee is supposed to be balanced with perspectives from state and tribal governments — Native American tribes also receive a share — and civil society and academia.

Census Needs Strong Objective Leadership—Now

Wed, 28 Feb 2018 11:07:54 -0600

A controversial pick for a top Census Bureau job has withdrawn. Strong nonpartisan leadership is needed at the Bureau to ensure the 2020 census goes well.

Government Prison Contracts Gamble with Taxpayer Dollars

Tue, 27 Feb 2018 09:43:29 -0600

The Justice Department is implementing President Trump’s promise to bring back private prison contracts, ignoring its own Inspector General’s recommendations.

I See Dead People . . . Cashing Federal Checks; Legislation Targets Payments Made in Error

Mon, 26 Feb 2018 14:06:51 -0600

Would you believe that some federal agencies are still mistakenly paying people long after they are dead? Fortunately, new bipartisan legislation in the Senate takes steps to tackle this problem.

How an Influential Committee can Make Energy Royalties Great Again

Mon, 26 Feb 2018 13:47:47 -0600

An influential committee meeting this week has the power to fix that system by implementing important reforms to the way the public is compensated for resources extracted from public land.

EPA Drags Its Feet with Records Requests Aimed at Scott Pruitt’s Office

Fri, 23 Feb 2018 16:19:25 -0600

The Environmental Protection Agency is especially slow at processing Freedom of Information Act requests for records in the Administrator’s office compared to the rest of the agency.

Unworthy Tribute: FEMA Contract Raises Disaster Preparedness Concerns

Fri, 23 Feb 2018 13:37:41 -0600

The failure of a small, inexperienced company to deliver meals to Puerto Rico disaster survivors highlights the need for improved federal contracting.

Enforcement of Environmental Laws Drops Under Trump Administration

Tue, 20 Feb 2018 15:12:30 -0600

Budget, staffing, and leadership decisions have resulted in fewer investigations and prosecutions of polluters.

The President v. The Courts

Tue, 13 Feb 2018 14:38:01 -0600

Past U.S. presidents of both parties have threatened to undermine the authority of the third branch. Do President Trump’s attacks cross a red line?

Homeland Security Falling Short in Managing Risky Contractors

Thu, 08 Feb 2018 08:00:05 -0600

A new report from the Department of Homeland Security’s watchdog found shortcomings in the agency’s suspension and debarment program, undermining safeguards that protect taxpayers from poorly performing or lawbreaking contractors and other federal fund recipients.

Insider Threat Programs Could Chill Whistleblowing, Agency Warns

Wed, 07 Feb 2018 13:36:00 -0600

New guidance from the Office of Special Counsel warns federal agencies that non-disclosure agreements, insider threat programs, and employee monitoring programs may violate whistleblower protections.

Unrigging the System

Fri, 02 Feb 2018 15:20:26 -0600

It’s time to tell Congress that we need new and better solutions to “unrig the system.”

“The Memo”: Willful Ignorance and the House Intel Committee

Fri, 02 Feb 2018 09:42:49 -0600

The House Intelligence Committee voted to publicly release its classified memo on the FBI while opting to be willfully ignorant of the facts and potential consequences of its actions. That's the biggest problem with #ReleaseTheMemo.

With #ReleaseTheMemo, Nunes Hopes You Won’t Understand FISA

Thu, 01 Feb 2018 15:36:56 -0600

FISA, a highly complex law, has two provisions particularly relevant to the Nunes memo and the hypocrisy surrounding the Republicans’ sudden concern about it.

Justice Department Plan to Weed Out “Frivolous” Whistleblower Cases May Do More Harm than Good

Wed, 31 Jan 2018 14:51:25 -0600

This month, the Department of Justice formally issued its new policy of more aggressively seeking to throw out False Claims Act lawsuits it deems “frivolous” or “meritless.” POGO explains why this is a bad idea.

U.S. a Haven for Global Corruption Profits, Panelists Say

Tue, 30 Jan 2018 12:58:17 -0600

Foreign corruption is a problem enabled by American laws, banks, and other institutions. U.S. journalists need to partner with peers in other countries to connect the dots.

Scott Pruitt to Testify Today: Here Are POGO’s Most Pressing Questions

Tue, 30 Jan 2018 08:15:31 -0600

EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt will testify today in front of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. POGO hopes for thorough answers about EPA accountability.

The Dark Side of the “World’s Most Admired” Companies

Fri, 26 Jan 2018 17:14:22 -0600

Don’t let Fortune magazine’s ranking of the “World’s Most Admired Companies” fool you—most of those companies have long rap sheets and paid millions of dollars in fines, penalties, and out-of-court settlements for an assortment of misconduct.

After 'Foreign Surveillance' Law, Congress Must Demand Answers from Intelligence Community

Thu, 25 Jan 2018 15:51:34 -0600

Senators voting on a new NSA director should set a strong but simple condition for their approval: In order to be confirmed, the next NSA director must publicly commit to Congress that that the NSA will provide an estimate of the number of Americans affected by Section 702.

IT Contracts Worth Billions Lack Proper Oversight, GAO Reports

Tue, 23 Jan 2018 13:45:25 -0600

Federal agency IT contracts with a combined value in the billions of dollars are not being properly reviewed and approved by chief information officers as is required by law.

DHS Showdown with Watchdog Over Travel Ban Report Partially Resolved

Mon, 22 Jan 2018 10:13:00 -0600

The Department of Homeland Security and its Office of Inspector General moved beyond an impasse over the public issuance of a report on the Department’s bungled rollout of President Trump’s travel ban. But parts of the report are still veiled in secrecy.

Record-Breaking National Disaster Recovery Budget Should Include Ample Oversight

Fri, 19 Jan 2018 16:37:56 -0600

Recovery from the 2017 hurricanes will mean tens of billions of dollars in federal disaster spending. Oversight of such large amounts will be vital, and providing adequate funds for that oversight will ensure that the recovery money is effectively spent, and not fraudulently diverted.

Facts on FISA: Correcting the Record on the Section 702 House Floor Debate

Fri, 19 Jan 2018 13:01:14 -0600

As we move forward with this new iteration of Section 702, it’s critical to look back at the debate and correct the record on inaccurate statements about this law and the proposals to reauthorize it. The following is a compilation of all factual errors that I uncovered while reviewing the entire floor debate, with explanations and corrections.