64 Groups to Congress: Start Preparing Tough and Effective Oversight Right Now

The question is not whether the public wants accountability, but whether Congress can conduct the meaningful oversight that exposes abuses of power, holds powerful corporate and political actors accountable, and points towards reforms that improve people’s lives.

By 64 Organizations, Public Citizen

Congress should prepare now for a robust, strategic, and effective oversight agenda of the administration, 64 groups said in a letter today. Oversight must be designed to succeed even in the face of an administration that refuses to cooperate, the groups said, and preparations must begin immediately.

“Every committee should be clear-eyed that this administration is likely to stonewall investigative efforts, and there must be plans for immediate escalation when that occurs to compel disclosure and testimony. This also requires using the full range of congressional tools and information sources available, including testimony from corporate executives, former government officials, whistleblowers, state and local officials, independent experts, affected workers and consumers, public records, inspector general findings, litigation records, and documents available outside the executive branch,” the letter reads.

According to Gallup, 90% of Americans believe corruption in government is widespread. Cleaning up government requires meaningful oversight that exposes abuses of power, holds powerful corporate and political actors accountable, and points towards reforms that improve people’s lives.

Committees should identify consequential targets, investigate corporate influence over government decisions, and focus on issues that affect working families’ daily lives, including higher costs, weakened consumer protections, corporate misconduct, attacks on democratic safeguards, and the use of public office for private gain.

Importantly, investigations should build toward legislation, stronger enforcement, ethics reforms, consumer protections, and other durable policy changes. In addition, congressional committees should establish formal, ongoing channels to partner with outside organizations to help develop hearing and investigation ideas, identify witnesses, surface documents and investigative leads, protect and support whistleblowers, connect committees with affected communities and subject-matter experts, and troubleshoot obstacles as investigations develop.

The public is demanding accountability. Congress must be prepared to deliver it in a strategic, disciplined way that focuses on the real harms that corruption and corporate power impose on everyday Americans.