• Take Action!



• Watchdog Blog



• Clean Up Washington



• White House for Sale



• Open Government



• Consumer and Civil Justice



• Election Reform



• Key Reports



• Congressional Voting Records



• The Archives



• Link to Us

Open Government

More Freedom of Information Still Needed

We helped improve the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), the first legislative update in more than a decade. But new legislation would go even further to ensure that exemptions to the law cannot be passed without notice and public debate. Read our group letter in support of the OPEN FOIA Act. Also, get the latest updates on the Watchdog Blog.

Transparency in Government Contracts

U.S. Senators Barack Obama (D-IL) and Tom Coburn (R-OK) have introduced the Strengthening Transparency and Accountability in Federal Spending Act of 2008, which would expand the information available on USASpending.gov and make the data more accessible and readable. Read the summary of the bill and our letter of support.

Ending the Lockdown on Open Government

The Bush administration has continually shown it doesn’t believe in an open, democratic environment. Delaying FOIA requests, blocking government workers from testifying before Congress, withholding presidential records and deleting White House e-mails are just some of the ways it has kept information from the public. Had enough? Watch a Webcast of a dual-panel discussion on what the government is hiding, the public’s right to know, and what you can do about it.  In addition, Public Citizen and 33 other groups urged the White House to let the public review and comment the rules governing the designation of Sensitive But Unclassified (or Controlled Unclassified Information -- CUI).

Presidential Records Act

In 2001, Bush signed Executive Order 13233 to allow presidents to withhold documents and records without explanation INDEFINITELY.  What’s more, the order extends the authority to control the records to presidential family members and vice presidents.  Public Citizen took it to court and won a partial victory. Now Congress must pass the Presidential Records Act Amendments to fully nullify the Bush Order and return the presidential records to the people.  Get the latest updates on our Watchdog Blog.

Whistleblower

When courageous people risk their careers to bring about a more honest and accountable government, they should be protected. We are closer than ever to extending protection to brave government employees. Both the House and the Senate have passed bills to protect the rights of government whistleblowers. Now, these two bills need to be reconciled and passed into law. The bill must not be weakened in the process! Get the latest news in our Watchdog Blog.

Whistleblower Protections for Defense Contractors Needed

The most important first step toward curbing wartime contracting abuses is to protect witnesses who expose corruption and waste. The bipartisan whistleblower protection amendment, sponsored by Senators Claire McCaskill and Susan Collins and approved unanimously by the Senate, significantly advances this goal. Its provisions are consistent with recently passed rights for employees in the ground transportation industry to strengthen the homeland security safeguards in the 9/11 law. It is important that the McCaskill-Collins defense contracting whistleblower amendment be in the final Department of Defense Authorization bill.

To genuinely challenge corruption, contractor employees must know they will be protected for defending the integrity of their operations.

Because Public Citizen does not accept funds from corporations, professional associations or government agencies, we can remain independent and follow the truth wherever it may lead. But that means we depend on the generosity of concerned citizens like you for the resources to fight on behalf of the public interest. If you would like to help us in our fight, click here.