• Tailoring the tanker contract so that only Boeing would be able to meet the requirements. By doing so, the Air Force eliminated other companies from being able to compete for the contract, it failed in its duty to procure a tanker that will meet its mission needs. This compromise means that the Pentagon is not buying the best, most useful tanker for our fighting men and women.
  
  
• Attempting to waive vital taxpayer protections including the Truth in Negotiations Act (TINA) and the Cost Accounting Standards (CAS) by labeling the tankers a "commercial" buy. Both TINA and CAS protect the government in cases where a true commercial marketplace that sets fair prices does not exist, particularly in the purchase of military aircraft such as the 767 tankers. Cost Accounting Standards ensure that defense contractors do not use Enron-like accounting gimmicks to cheat the government. The Truth in Negotiations Act creates an even playing field by requiring defense contractors to disclose their costs so that the government can negotiate reasonable prices. The Air Force's illegal use of commercial buying practices for the tanker deal gave Boeing the green light to rip off the government.

POGO has been a leader in exposing Boeing's sweetheart deal starting with its 2002 report "Fill 'Er Up: Back-Door Deal For Boeing Will Leave The Taxpayer on Empty" and early efforts to expose the revolving door case of Darleen Druyun, a key architect of the tanker deal who, after landing a lucrative Boeing job, was fired for her unethical conduct in engineering the deal.

POGO investigates, exposes, and seeks to remedy systemic abuses of power, mismanagement, and subservience by the federal government to powerful special interests. Founded in 1981, POGO is a politically-independent, nonprofit watchdog that strives to promote a government that is accountable to the citizenry.