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
President-elect Trump’s inaugural committee is inviting special interests to stay in the swamp
This morning, Issue One Chief of Policy, Programs and Strategy Meredith McGehee issued the following statement: Late yesterday, reporters revealed what has become a common tale in Donald Trump’s Washington:…
Op-eds
Trump administration should shoulder the burden of developing new ethical standards
This letter to the editor originally appeared in the Wall Street Journal. It is in response to an earlier editorial about Donald Trump’s business interests. The Journal is right to chastise…
Analysis
Yes, Donald Trump, the presidency can have conflicts of interest
Today in a wide-ranging interview with the New York Times, President-elect Donald Trump made the spurious claim that, “The law is totally on my side, the president can’t have a…
Sign-on letters
President-elect Trump must divest himself of all business holdings
Issue One, along with other watchdog groups and individuals, signed onto the following letter calling on President-elect Donald Trump to address the unprecedented and overwhelming conflicts of interest his business interests…
Testimonies & comments
Issue One’s memo to President-Elect Trump’s administration
Issue One’s memo to President-elect Trump’s administration “Crony capitalism gives us special interest tax breaks, custom-designed regulations and special exemptions for favored parties.” So said the Republican platform adopted this…
Press releases
Statement of Nick Penniman: Donald Trump rides into the White House on a wave of populism and now it is time to reform the system
Following Donald Trump’s victory in the presidential contest early Wednesday morning, Issue One Executive Director Nick Penniman released the following statement: Donald Trump rides into the White House on a…
Press releases
Statement: Meredith McGehee on the final presidential debate
Following tonight’s presidential debate, Meredith McGehee, Issue One’s chief of policy, programs and strategy issued the following statement: Should Hillary Clinton become president, it is imperative for her to commit to create…
Archived
This one cool trick will get you a meeting with the president
It’s another dirty not-so-secret in Washington circles: donate to the charity or foundation of a member of Congress or the president, and it helps your chances to meet them. In…