Ethics

Analysis: Should the President Pick the Attorney General?

Attorneys general who serve at the pleasure of the president are more likely to act in pursuit of a particular political agenda, rather than solely in accordance with the rule of law.

  • Joshua Holzer, The Conversation

A Company Run by a White House 'Volunteer' With No Experience in Medical Supplies Got $2.4 Million From the Feds for Medical Supplies

A $2.4 million deal to supply the Bureau of Prisons with surgical gowns was the second multimillion dollar contract for coronavirus supplies that went to somebody who did work for the White House but had little relevant experience.

  • Yeganeh Torbati and Derek Willis, ProPublica

Analysis: The Justice Department Has Had to Twist Itself in Knots to Defend Trump on Emoluments

For decades, the department has interpreted the Constitution to err on the side of country first. Now all that has changed.

  • Jane Chong, The Atlantic

Revenge of the Obamacrats

Obama’s top environmental official wanted nothing to do with politics after leaving the government. What did it take to bring her back?

  • Miranda Green, The Atlantic

The Feds Gave a Former White House Official $3 Million to Supply Masks to Navajo Hospitals. Some May Not Work.

Zach Fuentes, former deputy chief of staff to President Trump, won the contract just days after registering his company. He sold Chinese masks to the government just as federal regulators were scrutinizing foreign-made equipment.

  • Yeganeh Torbati and Derek Willis, ProPublica

Another Private Jet Company Owned by a Trump Donor Got a Bailout — This One for $20 Million

The two private jet companies are among the first 96 airline companies disclosed as recipients of taxpayer funds under the CARES Act.

  • Jake Pearson, ProPublica

GovExec Daily: Inspectors General and Oversight In the Trump Administration

Katherine McIntire Peters and Courtney Bublé join the podcast to discuss the president's letter stating that he will remove State Department Inspector General Steve Linick from his job.

  • Ross Gianfortune and Adam Butler

Pence’s 'Special Envoy' in Foreign Aid Office Sparked an Ethics Complaint Just Weeks After He Started His Job

Weeks before joining the administration, Max Primorac, a USAID appointee and adviser to Vice President Mike Pence, pushed the business interests of a client to an organization funded by USAID.

  • Yeganeh Torbati, ProPublica

A Trump Official Tried to Fast-Track Funding for His Friend’s Unproven COVID-19 'Treatment,' Whistleblower Says

Whistleblowing virologist Rick Bright says that his Trump-appointed boss tried to fast-track funding for a friend’s coronavirus treatment, and that he was reassigned for insisting that funding be reserved for “safe and scientifically vetted solutions.”

  • Lisa Song, ProPublica

Agencies Remind Employees to Remain Ethical During Pandemic

Think twice before accepting a gift from a grateful citizen or using your work computer for personal activities, agencies say.

  • Eric Katz

Kushner Firm Built the Coronavirus Website Trump Promised

The extent of Oscar Health’s work on coronavirus testing hasn’t been previously reported.

  • Robinson Meyer, The Atlantic

Trump Signs Bill to Strengthen Presidential Transition Ethics Requirements

The bipartisan legislation also has requirements for GSA and other federal agencies.

  • Courtney Bublé

The President Is Winning His War on American Institutions

How Trump is destroying the civil service and bending the government to his will.

  • George Packer, The Atlantic
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Trump’s New Spy Chief Failed to Report $100,000 from a Group Funded by Hungary

Richard Grenell’s past clients could raise concerns about his access to state secrets, according to his own office’s rules.

  • Isaac Arnsdorf, ProPublica

Defense Secretary Reminds Employees to Remain Apolitical and Ethical

The statement was released right after Esper attended President Trump’s remarks following the president’s acquittal on impeachment charges.

  • Courtney Bublé

The Founding Generation Showed Their Patriotism With Their Money

History suggests the value of a broader understanding of patriotism, one that goes beyond saluting-the-flag loyalty and battlefield bravery.

  • Tom Shachtman, The Atlantic

House Passes Bipartisan Bill to Strengthen Presidential Transition Team Ethics Requirements

The Senate-approved measure also has requirements for GSA and other agencies.

  • Courtney Bublé

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.

  • Erich Wagner

Viewpoint: The Obscure—but Critical—Rules the Trump Administration Has Sought to Corrupt

I was part of a team that carefully developed a rule-making process in compliance with both the Constitution and Congress’s laws. Can the same be said now?

  • Peter M. Shane, The Atlantic

Viewpoint: Hush Contracts Corrupt Everyone Who Signs Them

Nondisclosure agreements silence sexual-harassment victims and White House employees alike. The law shouldn’t allow these deals.

  • Tess Wilkinson-Ryan and Dave Hoffman, The Atlantic

Viewpoint: The Case Against 'Emolument'

The word is outdated. Why not use plain language instead?

  • John McWhorter, The Atlantic