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,…