policy
Private: Ensuring the independence of inspectors general (IGs)
Loopholes in our system allow presidents to overreach and fire IGs for political or personal reasons, undermining the public’s ability to hold government officials accountable.
Ethics &
Accountability
Executive Branch Ethics
To hold the executive branch accountable, there needs to be strong, independent institutions in place. That means strengthening and clarifying the authority of the supervising ethics office for the executive branch, protecting the integrity, independence, and ability of Inspectors General to deter and investigate abuse of power without interference, and calling out executive branch officials for ethical lapses.
Featured Press
Issue One praises anticipated new ethics order from President Biden, criticizes Trump for rescinding his ethics order on way out of White House
Scott Pruitt’s ethical lapses finally catch up to him
White House OMB Director pulls back curtain on the worst of Washington
Anonymous political donations to government sources are a nonstarter
The Latest on Executive Branch Ethics
Press releases
It is time to enhance and modernize the Office of Government Ethics (OGE)
As Office of Government Ethics (OGE) Director Walter Shaub leaves office this week, Issue One Chief of Policy, Programs and Strategy Meredith McGehee released the following statement: “Public confidence in…
Analysis
Here’s why modernizing the Office of Government Ethics (OGE) should be on top of the congressional to-do list
In the aftermath of the Watergate scandal involving President Richard Nixon, Congress established the Office of Government Ethics (OGE) in 1978 to provide oversight of the executive branch and prevent — and resolve…
Press releases
Statement of Meredith McGehee: White House Refusing to Publicly Release Visitor Logs is Unfortunate
Issue One Chief of Policy Meredith McGehee’s response to reports of the White House refusing to publicly release its visitor logs: “What an unfortunate and ill-judged decision by the White House. From…
Press releases
Here’s how President Trump’s Speech Should Have Addressed Draining the Swamp
In his joint address to Congress last night, President Trump laid out a broad agenda, from jobs and health care, to taxes and national security, for change in Washington. However,…
Press releases
What You Might Not Know about White House Counsel Don McGahn
Earlier this week, multiple stories asked the question: Who is Donald McGahn, the White House counsel seemingly at the center of every major POTUS news story? The so-called ‘fiery’ lawyer,…
Archived
Announcing Issue One’s Snapshots Project
Let’s face it: Not everyone can follow every money in politics, ethics or conflict of interest story, especially when there are daily — or hourly — developments. But we also…
Press releases
President Trump closed a door and opened a tollbooth
In response to Trump administration advisers launching the political nonprofit group America First Policies to support President Trump’s policies, Issue One Chief of Policy, Programs and Strategy Meredith McGehee issued the following…
Press releases
Issue One Statement on President Trump’s Lobbying Executive Order
This statement has been updated following a review of the executive order on ethics signed by President Trump. “At first blush, today’s executive order on ethics signed by President Trump…
Press releases
Donald Trump’s Conflict of Interest Plan Doesn’t Go Nearly Far Enough
President-elect Donald Trump waded into uncharted waters today at his first press conference since he won the November election. Unfortunately, the Trump plan outlined to address conflicts of interest falls…
TV appearances
Meredith McGehee talks Jared Kushner’s appointment on NBC Nightly News
Ahead of President-elect Donald Trump’s press conference tomorrow, which is scheduled to address his businesses and potential conflicts of interest, he named his son-in-law Jared Kushner as a senior adviser.…