As 2025 draws to a close, all of us at PEER would like to extend our warmest wishes for a joyful holiday season and a happy new year. Even as we take time to reflect, our work continues to grow in response to the challenges of this year.
Just last week, we were part of a coalition that sued the Trump-Vance administration over its illegal attempt to defund the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency (CIGIE). CIGIE coordinates oversight efforts across federal agencies and supports the work of more than 70 Offices of Inspectors General – the independent watchdogs responsible for rooting out waste, fraud, misconduct, and corruption in the federal government.
This lawsuit is part of our effort to make our government more transparent and accountable to Congress and the American people. CIGIE and Inspectors General are under attack precisely because they help expose and address capricious, corrupt, and revenge-based agendas within the federal government and save taxpayers money.
While we’re in a time of profound challenges, this lawsuit is another example of what we can accomplish together. Our work protecting the civil service and our environment is a crucial part of the long-term battle to defend our nation’s values and our future.
With gratitude and hope,
Tim Whitehouse
Executive Director
P.S. One of our generous supporters has pledged to match every gift to PEER, up to $15,000, made before December 31st. Please consider helping us reach the full $15,000 match and double your gift before the year ends.
Congress Urged to Reject Limits on NPS Employee Ratings
PEER and the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks have written to Congress to express our strong opposition to the Trump administration’s reported plan to impose artificial limits on performance ratings for National Park Service employees. This action raises serious legal concerns, reflects profoundly poor management practice, and is already inflicting harm on employee morale, trust, and the effective stewardship of our national parks. Read more »
Trump and Congress Just Gifted Big Oil a Multimillion-Dollar Stocking Stuffer
This week, Congress quietly gave the oil industry a multimillion-dollar tax break by allowing the 9 cent-per-barrel oil tax contribution into the federal Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund to expire on December 31. PEER’s board chair Richard Steiner explores this latest example of how the Trump administration is prioritizing polluters over public health. Read more »
Building Accountability Back Into Government: Why It’s Essential for the Environment and Public Health
Restoring accountability is among the most urgent environmental and public health challenges of our time. PEER’s Executive Director Tim Whitehouse argues it is also a challenge we know how to meet — if we choose to strengthen, rather than silence, the institutions designed to keep government honest. Read more »
Environmental Attacks Continue at Full Speed; Much of it Under the Radar
While many people have been trying to regain their footing after the shutdown, the federal government is continuing to gut important environmental and health protections. PEER’s Executive Director Tim Whitehouse writes about how several recent major rollbacks together show a government being redirected to serve a narrow set of industries at the expense of the public. Read more »
