Oversight
Lawmakers Demand Answers on Alleged EPA Ethics Violations
House overseers say they found multiple instances in which officials flouted required ethics pledges and other disclosures.
Oversight
Energy Dept. Hatch Act Violator Agrees to Resign and Leave Government for at Least 3 Years
The employee gave a congressional candidate special access to a radioactive waste treatment plant despite warnings this would violate ban on political activity while working.
Oversight
GAO: Trump Administration Violated the Law by Withholding Ukraine Aid
The administration pushed back on the findings, and has said GAO decisions are not binding.
Oversight
Top Democrat Asks Secret Service How Much It Has Spent Protecting the Trump Family on Trips
Request comes in preparation for the fiscal 2021 budget process.
Oversight
Meet the House Republicans Who Want to Rein In Trump On War
After the Soleimani strike, a working group of moderate Republicans and Democrats trying to “clarify” Congress’s war responsibilities hope they can build momentum.
Oversight
IG Council Launches Online Tracker to Draw Attention to Vacancies
New tool is part of a series of reforms to Oversight.gov.
Oversight
These Emails Show a Trump Official Helping Her Former Chemical Industry Colleagues
A lobbyist turned senior Agriculture Department official repeatedly shared information with her former industry on policy and enforcement. “It’s highly inappropriate conduct,” said one ethics expert.
Oversight
Analysis: Can the Constitution Stop the Government from Lying to the Public?
When a person or agency backed by the power and resources of the government tells a lie, it sometimes causes harm that only the government can inflict.
Oversight
EPA Could Save Taxpayers Thousands of Dollars Through Stronger Oversight of Mobile Phones
The agency “missed an opportunity” to better use $12,000 spent over two years on unnecessary voice and data services, watchdog finds.
Management
Abbott Tells Trump Administration Texas Won't Participate in Refugee Resettlement
The decision comes after more than 40 other governors said they would opt in to the federal program.
Oversight
Good Government Groups Push for Nonpartisan Panel to Find FEC Commissioners
They wrote to the White House and Senate leadership on Monday urging the speedy restoration of a quorum and then a panel to help fill the remaining seats.
Defense
Trump, like Obama, Tests the Limits of Presidential War Powers
Both President Trump and President Obama used military force without informing Congress, or getting its approval. But the differences reveal more than the similarities.
Oversight
House Passes War Powers Resolution to Limit War With Iran
The measure is legally toothless, but could still have some political impact.
Oversight
Appeals Court Rules Trump Can Use Nearly $4 Billion in Military Funds for Border Wall
The White House called the initial decision to block on the use of military funds for the boder wall "illegitimate" and hailed the appeals court decision as a victory.
Oversight
House Lawmakers Issue ‘Ultimatum’ to GSA Over Trump Hotel Records Subpoena
GSA disputes the lawmakers’ allegations of noncompliance.
Oversight
OSHA Cites Bureau of Prisons Facility for Unsafe Working Conditions
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration found “serious” problems at a Florida prison, prompting the first ever citation for BOP.
Oversight
IRS Reforms Free File Program, Drops Agreement Not to Compete With TurboTax
The changes come after ProPublica’s reporting showed how TurboTax maker Intuit tricked customers into paying for tax prep they could have gotten for free.
Oversight
The Legal Questions Still Unanswered by Trump’s Impeachment
What exactly is abuse of power? And, for that matter, what is “obstruction of Congress?”
Oversight
Federal Agencies Need to Improve Oversight of Security Aid to Lebanon
Hizbollah's influence “heightens the importance of ensuring strong management controls.”
Oversight