IEC Journal

Whistleblower Ruling Stirs Controversy

Joe Davidson's Washington Post Federal Diary column examines a controversial MSBP decision. An excerpt:

Until Congress acts, the Whistleblower Protection Act is dead," said Tom Devine, legal director of the Government Accountability Project. "The MacLean decision means government agencies can fire employees for any disclosure otherwise protected by the WPA. The decision reduces the WPA to a voluntary guideline that agencies can cancel at will by issuing blanket gag regulations."

But Devine and other advocates, including those in Congress, aren't willing to let the law pass away peacefully. Rather than grieving, they are using the decision as evidence in their long battle to pass stronger whistleblower protections.

More views from Government Accountability Project are available.

Whistleblowers Seek Jury Trials

Joe Davidson's Federal Diary column examines Hill efforts to expand whistleblower protection. An excerpt:

Whistleblowers need "full access to court to enforce their rights through a jury trial," said Tom Devine, legal director of the Government Accountability Project.

But the Obama administration, which is generally sympathetic to whistleblower rights, has not embraced the concept of jury trials to protect those rights. When Rajesh De, a deputy assistant attorney general, testified before the House, his testimony was notable for what it didn't say about jury trials.

"So far, the administration seems glued to the fence on that issue," Devine said.

FAA Whistleblowers Blog

The FAA Whistleblowers blog provides a different perspective. As the tagline states: "This blog has been created by, for, and about FAA Whistleblowers. Come in and read about the individuals who have put it all on the line by making safety disclosures which placed their careers in jeopardy."

New Whistleblower Protections in the Works?

Joe Davidson reports in his May 1 Federal Diary column that a bipartisan group of legislators is asking the President to issue an Executive Order protecting whistleblowers.

Meanwhile, two whistleblower bills are showing signs of possible life:

• S 372

• HR 1507

All Things Whistleblower

The Government Accountability Project's All Things Whistleblower provides detailed information about whistleblower issues. Like most blogs, it provides an RSS feed, making it easy to keep track of new developments. If you are not yet using an RSS reader, the RSS-to-E-mail conversion services many use to monitor the IEC Journal will work equally well for All Things Whistleblower.

Stimulus Bill Omits Whistleblower Protection

This morning's Federal Diary column discusses the omission of expanded whistleblower protection from the stimulus bill.

Watchdog Concerns for 2009

An ABC News story describes the current key concerns of government watchdog groups. A sample:

The enormous spending expected next year makes more openness and protection for whistleblowers a necessity, said Tom Devine of the Government Accountability Project. "It's a necessity for President Obama to honor the commitments of Candidate Obama to enact whistleblower protection rights" for both public and private workers, he said.

Obama Said To Be Pro-Whistleblower

A Federal Diary column speculates that President-Elect Obama will be favorably disposed toward whistle-blowers.

New Whistleblower Protection Proposal

Government Executive has an article on new proposals to protect whistleblowers that emerged at a conference on whistleblower rights sponsored by the Government Accountability Project and American University's Washington College of Law. Gov Exec notes:

Strengthening whistleblower protections is considered imperative for many advocacy groups and public and private sector employees, especially since the landmark law safeguarding whistleblowers -- the 1989 Whistleblower Protection Act -- has been weakened by a series of rulings by the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals since 1994. Panelists said the courts have rewritten the laws to create loopholes that significantly undermine the law.

Updated Aug. 4 to improve clarity.

More on DOD Auditor Story

Government Executive has a story on the reaction to GAO allegations of improper pressure against Defense Contract Audit Agency auditors reported here earlier.