POGO Weekly, digest on government accountability, Sat., July 4, 2026

 

Your weekly digest on government accountability July 4, 2026

250 years later

250 years later On July 4

Today is a monumental anniversary for our country. We are celebrating the only way we know how: By recommitting ourselves to the everyday work of creating a government worthy of people like you.

America was founded on the promise of accountability. The past few years, with all their challenges, have shown us where our government is still falling short on that promise.

But POGO's work is driven by the belief that better is possible. We know it is within our power to strengthen the pillars of democracy, restore the balance of power, and defend your constitutional rights. We also know it is our responsibility — democracy will not defend itself.

“We find ourselves on the precipice of returning to the very form of government Americans rebelled against 250 years ago. But just as the founders fought against the monarchy over two centuries ago, we can fight back against these latest attempts to take power away from the people.”

To join us in observing and celebrating the spirit of independence, read POGO’s Isabel Munilla’s op-ed on the holiday.

There is no better way to mark 250 years than to invest in the promise behind the day. Your gift today holds power accountable — and builds a government that answers to the people, not to a single ruler. Make your 250th gift. Donate now

SCOTUS WATCH The takeaways

It was the last week of the Supreme Court’s 2025-2026 term, and it delivered a handful of bombshell decisions. Some are worth celebrating. Others, we are gearing up to fight.

Trump v. Barbara: The justices ruled to uphold birthright citizenship, striking down the Trump administration’s executive order. Why it matters: Ending birthright citizenship would’ve ended equal protection under the law. This ruling protects a basic promise: the president alone cannot decide who counts as American.

Chatrie v. United States: The Supreme Court ruled that your location data is indeed private and protected under the Constitution from unreasonable searches. Why it matters: The justices affirmed that federal law enforcement cannot circumvent the Fourth Amendment. That same logic should close the data broker loophole for good. This is a landmark ruling for digital privacy, and we're using it to keep fighting warrantless mass surveillance.

Trump v. Slaughter: The court allowed Trump to fire the head of the Federal Trade Commission, giving him further control over independent agencies and the executive branch at large. Why it matters: This ruling threatens the independence of crucial agencies and offices that hold the federal government accountable to you — including our vital inspectors general system. If the president can fire anyone for any reason, he can fire someone for the wrong reasons. POGO is urging Congress to intervene and shield independent agencies and offices from politicization.

FOLLOW THE MONEY The Pentagon can make do without $1.5 trillion

This week, we released a report co-authored with our allies at the Taxpayers for Common Sense on How to Cut Half a Trillion Dollars from the Pentagon Budget Request and Strengthen National Security. It identifies $497 billion in cuts to wasteful, unnecessary spending in the Pentagon’s more than $1.5 trillion budget request for fiscal year 2027. Those are your hard-earned tax dollars, and we’re fighting to make sure they aren’t squandered. “A strong national defense benefits from attention to detail and confronting hard choices. We hope this report facilitates both,” says POGO’s Greg Williams.

This week, the House Rules Committee deliberated on which NDAA amendments to advance to a floor vote. Here are the amendments we advocated for in five key focus areas: conflicts of interest, military support to domestic law enforcement, congressional oversight, war powers, and top-line budget considerations.

POGO INVESTIGATES $1.5 Trillion Pentagon Budget Benefits Top Contractors

(Illustration: Luna Velez / POGO)

If the Pentagon gets the budget it wants, the Navy’s controversial Trump-class battleship would see a more than 1,200% increase in its annual budget in the next fiscal year. A hypersonic missile program that has seen years of testing challenges could get a 215% increase. These are among the 24 major weapons programs where the Pentagon is seeking to at least double annual spending, according to a review of a key budget document by the Project On Government Oversight (POGO). Read the story on pogo.org/investigates.

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