Sign On for Congressional Oversight Letter

October 9, 2026

Dear Member of Congress:

We, the undersigned organizations, write to urge congressional committees to prepare now for a

strategic and effective oversight agenda in the next Congress. Public concern about corruption

is at historic levels. According to Gallup, 90 percent of Americans say corruption in government

is widespread, with substantial majorities of Republicans, Democrats, and independents sharing

that view.

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. Our collective

organizations are hearing a loud call from our millions of members for this type of bold

accountability agenda.

Effective oversight should do more than generate headlines. Committees should identify

consequential targets, investigate the relationship between government decisions and corporate

influence, and focus on issues that affect working families' daily lives, including higher costs,

record levels of household debt, weakened consumer protections, corporate misconduct,

attacks on democratic safeguards, and the use of public office for private gain. Oversight should

also be designed to succeed even, and especially, when an administration refuses to cooperate.

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.

Just as importantly, investigations should build toward action. Hearings and reports should

establish the factual record necessary for legislation, stronger enforcement, ethics reforms,

consumer protections, and other durable policy changes in the next governing moment that

speak to the real harms and economic stressors Americans are experiencing. Oversight should

help explain not only what went wrong, but who benefited, who paid the price, and what

Congress can do to prevent those abuses from happening again. We encourage committees to

begin this planning now, including identifying priority investigations, developing witness and

document strategies, building investigative staff capacity, and determining how hearings and

investigations can reinforce a broader legislative and accountability agenda.

Finally, we encourage congressional committees to establish formal, ongoing channels to

partner with outside organizations. Regular communication can help committees 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 should be prepared to deliver it in a strategic, disciplined

way that focuses on the real harms corruption and corporate power impose on everyday

Americans.

Signed,

Acacia Center for Justice

Affordable Homeownership Foundation Inc.

AFT

American Bird Conservancy

American Civil Liberties Union

American Economic Liberties Project

American Federation of Teachers

American Sustainable Business Network

Americans for Financial Reform

Americans for Tax Fairness

Autistic Women & Nonbinary Network

Bend the Arc: Jewish Action

Beta Cell Action

Black South Rising

Breathe Project

Center for Biological Diversity

Center for Digital Democracy

Center for Environmental Health

Center for Progressive Reform

Center for Science in the Public Interest

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW)

Clean Elections Texas

Coalition on Human Needs

Common Cause

Court Accountability Action

Defend the Vote Action Fund

Democracy Defenders Action

Democratic Messaging Project

Endangered Species Coalition

Fix Democracy First

Government Information Watch

Greenpeace USA

Groundwork Action

Healthcare is a Human Right WA

Indivisible

Just Solutions

Lawyers for Good Government

MassCOSH

MOVI, Money Out Voters In

MPower Change Action Fund

National Immigration Law Center

National Organization for Women

National Partnership for Women & Families

National Women's Law Center

NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice

Our Revolution

People For the American Way

People Power United

Private Equity Stakeholder Project

Protect Borrowers

Protect Democracy

Public Advocacy for Kids (PAK)

Rachel Carson Council

Revolving Door Project

Rise Up WV

RootsAction

Save HIV Funding Campaign

Secure Elections Network

SEIU

Social Security Works

Stand Up America

The Workers Circle

Until Justice Data Partners

Voters Not Politicians

Washington CAN

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