What is whistleblowing?
- Whistleblowing is the reporting of waste, fraud, abuse, corruption or other misconduct undertaken by government employees.
What is waste, fraud and abuse?
- Waste, fraud and abuse are each a form of improper use of federal resources. For more information, use this resource from the Government Accountability Office.
Are civil servants required to report waste, fraud or abuse?
- Yes. It is a basic obligation of federal public service to “disclose waste, fraud, abuse, and corruption to the appropriate authorities.”
Where can civil servants report waste, fraud or abuse?
- Reports of waste, fraud or abuse, also known as protected disclosures, can be made to several different entities (e.g. Congress, the media, etc.), as long as disclosure of the information is not specifically prohibited by law or the information disclosed is not specifically required by executive order to be kept secret in the interest of national defense or the conduct of foreign affairs.
- Civil servants can report waste, fraud, or abuse to their agency ’s Office of the Inspector General or the Government Accountability Office via its FraudNet program.
- Each agency’s OIG office operates independently and has its own complaint process, but most have a reporting hotline.
- The House Office of the Whistleblower Ombuds offers information to anyone interested in reporting wrongdoing to Congress.
Are civil servants protected if they report waste, fraud or abuse?
- Certain civil servants in the executive branch who report waste, fraud or abuse are protected from facing retaliation or other abuses of authority through the Whistleblower Protection Act. Similar protections exist for civil servants in the legislative and judicial branches of government as well as civil servants in the intelligence community.
- Additionally, laws restrict disclosure of the identities of employees filing reports, and most IG offices allow reports to be anonymous.
- It’s important to note that whistleblowing comes with risks, including possible retaliation (even if the law prohibits it).
- If whistleblowers experience retaliation, they should file a claim with the U.S. Office of Special Counsel.
What risks may be associated with whistleblowing?
- While the Whistleblower Protection Act provides whistleblowers with protection, some whistleblowers still experience retaliation.
- Retaliation can include demotion, termination, reassignment, negative performance reviews, harassment, changes in pay or benefits, or denial of training or advancement opportunities.
- It is crucial for whistleblowers to document any retaliation or adverse actions they experience and if needed, to seek legal guidance.
Where can I find more information about what to expect from the whistleblowing process?
- Several good government groups specialize in supporting and advising individuals who make the choice to be whistleblowers. Here are two trusted organizations with more information on this topic: