On The Media: A New Whistleblower Law
Summary: GAP Legal Director Tom Devine talks to the NPR program On The Media about the recent passage of the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act (WPEA) – a bill that will significantly improve protections for federal whistleblowers. On The Media has been a key supporter in getting the WPEA passed. Last year, GAP and On The Media teamed up to discover which senators were behind theanonymous "secret hold" that had effectively killed the WPEA during the final hours of the 111th Congress in December 2010.
Related Articles: The Epoch Times, St. John Valley Times (ME)
Al Jazeera: How Does the US Treat Its Whistleblowers?
Summary: Inside Story Americas from Al Jazeera takes an in-depth look at the case of Bradley Manning and the treatment of whistleblowers by the US government. GAP National Security & Human Rights Director Jesselyn Radack is a featured guest.
Radack also blogged this morning on recent public statements made by Manning’s attorney about his harsh treatment while at Quantico, the marine base in Virginia.
Washington Post: Watchdog Wins Reprieve for Commerce Department Agents under Gag Agreement
Summary: The Merit Systems Protection Board has issued a stay order against the Office of the Inspector General in the Commerce Department, lifting gag agreements that prevent senior officials from speaking out against the agency. The Office of Special Counsel, who requested the order from the MSPB, argued that the senior officials had been coerced into signing nondisclosure agreements, violating whistleblower laws.
Truthout: Whistleblower – Nuclear Regulators Suprress Facts, Break Law
Summary: The lead author of a Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) report that found “unexpectedly higher risks of upstream dam failure to nuclear plants” filed a complaint against the agency, claiming they suppressed the report and violated the law in doing so.
Summary: A deliveryman has filed a whistleblower suit against a school district in California, alleging the district knowingly served expired food to students. He also claims he faced disciplinary action after raising the concerns.
Financial Mail (South Africa): Whistleblower in Limbo
Summary: A chief financial officer for a province education department in South Africa was fired after refusing to authorize a major contract with a textbook supplier that he felt violated the contract rules. The department went ahead with the contract anyway, but the whistleblower was later vindicated when the education minister canceled the contract after the senior counsel found it invalid.
Hannah Johnson is Communications Associate for the Government Accountabilty Project, the nation's leading whistleblower protectiona and advocacy organization.
