Walk the Talk Foundation doesn't just advise service members, veterans, and federal civilians — we work to change the systems that harm them. Through enacted legislation, active reform proposals, and direct congressional engagement, WtTF is building the policy infrastructure for a more just accountability system.
vincit omnia veritas — truth conquers all
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Law enacted
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Active proposals
70+
Congressional engagements since 2025
4
Years of reform work
Enacted Legislation
Signed into law
WtTF's advocacy contributed directly to the first statutory accountability provision for the Defense Intelligence Agency — passed by HPSCI and SSCI and signed into law as part of the FY23 Intelligence Authorization Act.
Enacted · FY23 Intelligence Authorization Act
Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023
Passed by HPSCI & SSCI · Signed into law October 2022
Following WtTF advocacy and a March 2022 HPSCI hearing in which Rep. Jackie Speier directly challenged DIA Director LTG Berrier on the Agency's "egregious behavior," Congress found that DIA had failed to address a "permissive environment for management abuses" — and mandated concrete corrective action for the first time in statute.
Provision 1
Mandatory exit surveys and interviews for all DIA personnel departing the Agency, with annual congressional reporting on results
Provision 2
Congressional oversight authority over DIA workforce climate surveys — ensuring results reach oversight committees, not just Agency leadership
Provision 3
DIA directed to determine feasibility of 360-degree performance assessments and implement upward feedback mechanisms
Provision 4
Mandatory leadership suitability assessments for all DIA personnel at GS-14 and above — first such statutory requirement at the Agency
Download IAA excerptSpearheaded by Lt Col (Ret.) Ryan Sweazey · President & Founder
Active Proposals
Reform on the table
WtTF has drafted and is actively advancing two major reform proposals through congressional engagement and executive branch outreach. Both are available for download and briefing.
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PROPOSED · EXECUTIVE ORDER
Creation of a Truly Independent Office of the Inspector General for the DoD
A proposed Executive Order that would remove the DoD IG system from the chain of command — eliminating the conflicts of interest that allow investigations to be influenced, suppressed, or weaponized.
→Create a fully independent DoD IG outside the organizational structure of the Department
→Mandate investigation timelines — ending months-to-years delays that harm readiness
→Allow appeal of all unsubstantiated or dismissed IG complaints from 2021–2025
→Require expedited FOIA processing of all Reports of Investigation
Spearheaded by Lt Col (Ret.) Ryan Sweazey & LTC (Ret) Francesca Graham
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PROPOSED · FY2027 NDAA
Military Investigative Competency Enhancement Act
Mandatory IG & IO Training — DoD and Coast Guard
Proposed NDAA legislation mandating standardized investigative training for all Inspectors General and command-appointed Investigating Officers before they conduct any administrative investigation.
Spearheaded by Col (Ret.) Tre Del Pizzo • Director of Congressional Engagement
Congressional Engagement
Congressional Engagement
Beyond formal legislation, WtTF engages directly with congressional offices on behalf of individual clients — helping service members, veterans, and federal civilians access oversight mechanisms and ensuring their cases reach the right people.
70+
Congressional engagements since 2025
4
Years of active Hill engagement
6
Service branches represented in client cases
2
Active proposals in circulation
Congressional inquiry requests
Helping clients draft and submit congressional inquiry letters to prompt command attention and oversight review
Legislative briefings
Briefing congressional staff on systemic IG failures, proposed reforms, and real-world impact on readiness
Committee outreach
Engaging Armed Services, Intelligence, and Homeland Security committees on administrative justice and oversight gaps
Leave-behind materials
Developing one-pagers, case summaries, and policy briefs tailored to congressional audiences and jurisdictions
Records correction support
Advising clients on engaging their Member of Congress to escalate improperly delayed BCMR/BCNR cases
Cross-branch coordination
Connecting client cases across House and Senate offices to surface systemic patterns no single office would otherwise see
A note on transparency: WtTF is working to formalize how we track congressional engagement over time. If you're a congressional staffer and want to be added to our briefing list, reach out below.
Congressional & press briefings
Walk the Talk Foundation is available to brief congressional staff, committee members, and press on military and federal accountability, Inspector General reform, whistleblower protections, and our active legislative proposals — backed by 500+ member advisements.
