Category: Accountability
Fed refuses to release documents on fossil fuel industry’s Covid-19 bailouts
‘The Public Has a Right to Know’ “As the climate crisis demands an abrupt shift away from fossil fuels, the federal government should not be creating programs to bail out these polluters.” by Jake Johnson, staff…
The Paycheck Protection Program reveal
by Wade Rathke Tuesday, July 7 New Orleans The Paycheck Protection Program, known as PPP, was a major part of the Congressionally approved stimulus program as part of the CARES Act. After the Treasury…
Trump friends and family approved for millions in small business bailout
Beneficiaries of the PPP included a lettuce farming venture backed by Trump’s son, Kushner companies, and a dentist who golfs with the president. The figures were released after a lawsuit by several news organizations, including ProPublica….
Trump-connected lobbyists have raked in $10 billion in Covid-19 aid for corporate clients
“The crisis offered an especially lucrative opportunity for those lobbyists who enjoy close ties to President Donald Trump and his administration—and they seized it.” by Jake Johnson, staff writer Tuesday, July 7 In yet another sign…
Public health officials face wave of threats, pressure amid coronavirus response
by Lauren Weber and Anna Maria Barry-Jester and Michelle R. Smith, The Associated Press June 12, 2020 Emily Brown was stretched thin. As the director of the Rio Grande County Public Health Department in rural Colorado,…
“I can’t speak negatively about the President,” says Official charged with stimulus oversight
President Donald Trump’s purge of watchdogs is on the mind of one of the newly hired officials charged with overseeing the more than $2 trillion CARES Act. by Ilya Marritz and Katherine Sullivan, WNYC Wednesday, June…
A closer look at federal COVID contractors reveals inexperience, fraud accusations and a weapons dealer operating out of someone’s house
The Trump administration has promised at least $1.8 billion to 335 first-time contractors, often without competitive bidding or thorough vetting of their backgrounds. by Ryan Gabrielson, Lydia DePillis, J. David McSwane and Derek Willis, ProPublica, and…
COVID bailout cash goes to big players that have paid millions to settle allegations of wrongdoing
by Rachana Pradhan and Fred Schulte, Kaiser Health News May 9, 2020 The Trump administration has sent hundreds of millions of dollars in pandemic-related bailouts to health care providers with checkered histories, including a Florida-based cancer…
Drug rehab ‘skirted compliance with the labor laws’ for financial gain, judge rules
By Shoshana Walter April 21, 2020 In a class-action ruling that could affect work-based rehabs across the country, a federal judge has ordered an Arkansas senator’s company and a drug rehab program to pay former participants…
Trump puts UnitedHealth Group, a for-profit Insurer in charge of Covid-19 hospital funds
‘Never Heard of Anything Like This’ “It’s simply bizarre and unconscionable that the Trump administration would have United manage billions in relief to hospitals.” by Jake Johnson, staff writer Wednesday, April 22, 9:00 AM MST Watchdog…
Years of toxic leaks raise cancer risk in Western oil town.
The broader influence of the oil industry in Artesia, New Mexico is hard to miss. Bronze statues venerate roughnecks and wildcatters, a brewpub downtown is named the Wellhead, and the walls of the local Chamber of…
Coronavirus stimulus law allows the Federal Reserve to hold secret meetings on corporate bailouts
“That provision’s a body blow to transparency when we need it most.” by Jake Johnson, staff writer A brief and obscure provision buried in the nearly 900-page coronavirus stimulus package passed by Congress last month authorizes…
Trump Removed the head of the Coronavirus Bailout Oversight Board. Its members could be next.
Democrats are scrambling to stop the president from replacing independent government watchdogs after he quickly pushed aside the leader of coronavirus bailout oversight. by Isaac Arnsdorf, ProPublica April 9, 1:27 p.m. EDT In the wake of…
Oversight of $4.5 trillion corporate bailout in ‘grave jeopardy’ as Trump fires independent watchdog
“A direct insult to the American taxpayers—of all political stripes—who want to make sure that their tax dollars are not squandered on wasteful boondoggles, incompetence, or political favors.” by Jake Johnson, staff writer Tuesday, April 7…
Secretary “Lost” at Sea
“Acting” secretary of the Navy is right. He’s acting as if he knows what he’s doing. by Wade Rathke New Orleans I’m way out of my lane when I start chiming in on how the…
US Government’s handling of coronavirus crisis has likely led to severe undercounting of deaths, public health officials say
“Data erasure and the manufacture of mass confusion have already begun.” by Julia Conley, staff writer Sunday, April 5 Decision-making by the U.S. government early on during the coronavirus outbreak has likely led to the…
‘I’ll be the oversight,’ Trump says as his political appointees protect Wall Street, real estate
By Aaron Glantz / Reveal March 30, 2020 “I’ll be the oversight,” President Donald Trump declared last week as Congress debated the $2.2 trillion economic rescue package he signed into law Friday. The bill, the largest…
