Project On Government Oversight

The Project on Government Oversight, othersize known as POGO, began as the Project on Military Procurement. The organization "worked to expose outrageously overpriced military spending such as the $7,600 coffee maker and the $436 hammer. After many successes reforming the military, POGO expanded its mandate to investigate systemic waste, fraud, and abuse in all federal agencies." 


 * Danielle Brian, Executive Director
 * Keith Rutter, Director of Operations
 * Scott Amey, General Counsel

Mission
"The Project On Government Oversight investigates, exposes, and seeks to remedy systemic abuses of power, mismanagement, and subservience by the federal government to powerful special interests. Founded in 1981, we are a politically-independent, nonprofit watchdog that strives to promote a government that is accountable to the citizenry."

Founder
"Twenty years ago I started the Project On Government Oversight with just a borrowed phone and desk, motivated by the idea that our government should work for us, not for special interests. I had a great deal of help from honest people in government, like my mentor Ernie Fitzgerald, and government contractors who risked their careers to get out the stories of fraud and waste. Now, I am proud to be on the Board of Directors of this vibrant organization. POGO has stayed lean and effective and continues to be a beacon for those inside the system who want to do the right thing but are unable to do it from within. Danielle Brian, POGO's Executive Director, has kept the spirit of the organization alive. POGO is still the 'memo of last resort' to those who want our government to work well."
 * Dina Rasor - Founder and Board Member.

Directors
Accessed January 2009:


 * David Hunter, Chair
 * Dina Rasor, Treasurer
 * Ryan Alexander
 * Henry Banta
 * Lisa Baumgartner Bonds
 * David Burnham
 * Michael Cavallo
 * Charles Hamel
 * Janine Jaquet
 * Morton Mintz
 * Anne Zill

Foundation Support
"POGO's organizational funding comes primarily from foundation grants and individuals. In order to preserve our independence, POGO does not accept any contributions from the federal government, corporations, unions, or anyone with a financial interest in the outcome of our investigations."

"POGO's Foundation Contributors in FY07 Include:


 * Anonymous (2), Arca Foundation, Francis Beidler Trust, Herb Block Foundation, Harold and Stephanie Bronson Fund of the Libe, Educational foundation of America, Ford Foundation, Fund for Constitutional Government, David B. Gold Foundation, William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, HMJS Marks Fund of the Community Foundation for the National Capital Region, Robert & Ardis James Foundation, Livingry Fund of Tides Foundation, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, New-Land Foundation, Open Society Institute, Park Foundation, Ploughshares Fund, Rockefeller Family Fund, Scherman Foundation

Progress
"None of POGO's achievements would have been possible without the help of our supporters, particularly whistleblowers and government insiders, as well as nonprofit partners, individual and foundation donors, and Congress. POGO's investigations have helped improve accountability and transparency at many federal agencies including the Department of Defense, Department of Energy, Environmental Protection Agency, Department of the Interior, and Department of Health and Human Services." 

Areas of Examination

 * Defense Contracting.
 * Faulty weapons.
 * Federal Election Commission Data.
 * False Claims Act.
 * Gag orders.
 * Whistleblower protections.
 * Official Secrets Act.
 * Oil industry fraud on federal and Indian lands.
 * Superconducting super collider.
 * Children's ears and antibiotics.
 * Area 51.
 * Subsidies to arms exporters.

Misc

 * POGO's Blog

Sister Organization

 * Government Accountability Project

Contact
666 11th Street NW Suite 500 Washington, DC 20001-4542 202 347-1122 / FAX 202 347-1116 info@pogo.org URL: www.pogo.org

Articles & Commentary

 * "Firms with White House ties get Katrina contracts. FEMA taps Halliburton subsidiary, Shaw Group, Bechtel for cleanup," CNN, September 10, 2005.
 * Robert Pear, "Bush Directive Increases Sway on Regulation," New York Times, January 30, 2007.

Related Sourcewatch articles

 * defense contractors
 * federal contractors
 * House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
 * Hurricane Katrina: Profiteering
 * military-industrial complex
 * prison-industrial complex
 * war profiteering