The Federal Government's Private Contracting Boom

It started with Bill Clinton, when "reinventing" government and "downsizing" the federal payroll became flagship "New Democrat" causes. It exploded under George W. Bush, when big government Republicans in love with the private sector ran Washington.

And now, your government, the work of the American public, at its most sensitive and core functions, has been massively outsourced to private corporations.

The first goal was efficiency. Now that's in question. But so are the integrity and fundamental commitment of private contractors, from the battlefield to deep in the bureaucracy.

This hour On Point: coming to grips with the outsourcing of America's government.

Guests:

Scott Amey, General Counsel for the Project on Government Oversight (POGO)

Stan Soloway, President of the Professional Services Council, an organization that represents government contractors

Angela Styles, Former chief of the Office of Federal Procurement Policy at the Office of Management and Budget in the Bush administration

T.Christian Miller, investigative reporter for the Los Angeles Times, author of "Blood Money: Wasted Billions, Lost Lives, and Corporate Greed in Iraq"