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 Work

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.

policy

Private: Preventing the president from abusing their power for personal gain

Congress must reassert itself as a co-equal branch of government and fulfill its constitutionally mandated oversight of the executive branch.

Sign-on letters

Issue One calls on Congress to protect and strengthen nation’s critical IG system

This week, Issue One spearheaded a crosspartisan coalition of 11 organizations calling on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee to expeditiously mark up and advance legislation designed to strengthen the Inspectors…

Press releases

Issue One praises anticipated new ethics order from President Biden, criticizes Trump for rescinding his ethics order on way out of White House

Issue One Executive Director Meredith McGehee issued the following statement today in response to President Joe Biden’s anticipated executive order aimed at enhancing government ethics and lobbying rules: “President Joe…

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

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…

Featured Press

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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

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Nov 30, 2016

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:…

Nov 29, 2016

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…

Nov 22, 2016

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…

Nov 17, 2016

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…

Nov 15, 2016

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…