What law protects Federal Employee Whistleblowers?
The Whistleblower Protection Act (WPA) prohibits federal agencies from taking adverse personnel actions against federal employees who engage in whistleblowing activities. Under the WPA, employees who believe they have been subjected to reprisal because of their protected disclosures may: (1) state a claim with the Office of Special Counsel (OSC), or (2) pursue an individual right of action before the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB); (3) appeal to the MSPB regarding an agency’s adverse action against the employee; or (4) initiate a grievance proceeding pursuant to negotiated grievance procedures. If a federal employee chooses to make a claim for whistleblower retaliation with the OSC, the OSC is obligated to investigate the allegations and make a decision within 240 days of receipt of a complaint as to whether there are reasonable grounds to believe that a prohibited personnel practice took place. If the OSC renders an unfavorable decision, an employee can still seek relief by sub
