Good Government
POGO's Good Government Investigations are aimed at making the federal government more effective, accountable, open, and honest. In recent months, POGO has offered good government recommendations to both presidential campaigns, and has begun an effort to identify good government indicators that apply to the federal, state, and local levels of government. If enacted, POGO's recommendations will make significant strides towards shrinking the cost of government operations, while at the same time making them more work better. Click on the program areas below to learn more.
Presidential Transition Priorities
POGO has sent a list of good government priorities to the transition teams for both presidential candidates. POGO's recommendations are aimed at achieving a more effective, accountable, open, and honest federal government--one that is truly responsive to the needs of its citizens. Both campaigns received POGO's advice for making agency missions more modern and relevant, protecting inherently governmental functions, improving whistleblower protections, halting the revolving door between the government and the private sector, increasing government transparency, and implementing multiple measures to improve and strengthen contract oversight.
State Project On Government Oversight (SPOGO)
POGO has initiated a joint project with the Aspen Institute to identify good government indicators that transcend our nation's government structures--from local to federal institutions. Through the shared knowledge of POGO, Aspen's Rodel Fellows--elected officials in state and local governments--and good government colleagues, this project will help to identify the specific laws, regulations, structures, and other frameworks that successfully promote openness, accountability, effectiveness, and ethics throughout all levels of government. The end result will be a checklist of good government indicators that will lay a solid groundwork for successfully operating government institutions.
