Empty Shelves, Culled Animals: COVID-19 Intersects with Decades of Industrialized Agriculture For decades, whistleblowers have told us that it is dangerous when Big Ag puts profits over people. Companies such as Tyson, JBS, and Smithfield, which have historically bulldozed independent businesses to gain control of our meat supply, have built fragile global supply chains in [...]
Social Distancing in Detention: An Inherent Paradox that Threatens Lives, for Detainees and the Public By Emma Lyons Government Accountability Project has long represented federal whistleblowers who drew attention to threats to immigrant health and safety under the Trump administration’s “zero tolerance” and “Remain in Mexico” policies. Even under normal circumstances, research has documented the [...]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 31, 2020 Government Accountability Project Condemns Retaliation Against Doctors Reporting PPE Shortages is Protected Speech, Say Whistleblower Advocates WASHINGTON -- Today, Bloomberg reported that doctors working in different states across the US had faced threats of firing and in some cases were actually terminated after they spoke to the press about [...]
Note: This article, featuring our Deputy Director of Legislation Irvin McCullough, was originally published here.. Government Transparency Is More Critical Now Than Ever, Experts Say “If there was ever a time for citizen oversight and media oversight and, obviously, insider oversight ... it’s now,” says one former USAID official. As the novel coronavirus outbreak worsens, [...]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 2/28/2020 Silencing and Intimidating Whistleblowers about Coronavirus Could Have Grave Consequences for Public Health WASHINGTON — Yesterday, the New York Times reported that Vice President Mike Pence, who President Trump announced would coordinate the government’s response to the Coronavirus, directed government health officials and scientists to “coordinate all statements and public appearances” [...]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 16, 2019 USDA Meat Inspectors Blow the Whistle on Dangerous New Hog Inspection System NBC’s Morning Joe features two Food Integrity Campaign clients who reveal food safety threats from USDA’s “modernization” of hog inspection WASHINGTON -- Today, two U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Safety Inspectors represented by Government Accountability Project, [...]
Note: this article, featuring Government Accountability Project and the Food Integrity Campaign, was originally published here. FSIS Privatizing Some Pig Slaughter Duties Plant workers to sort animals, trim carcasses before federal inspection. Starting in December, workers at swine slaughter plants will be taking over some food safety duties now performed by federal inspectors. Department of [...]
This article, written by Food Integrity Campaign Director Amanda Hitt, was originally published here. The Food System Needs Whistleblowers, Too After the USDA recently handed over responsibility for food safety in pork production to the industry itself, a government accountability advocate urges greater protection for whistleblowers. Whistleblowing is making headlines. But the Trump administration’s willingness [...]
Note: this podcast, featuring our Food Integrity Campaign Director Amanda Hitt, was originally published here. What Doesn't Kill You Episode 292: Rules Change in Pork Inspection Amanda Hitt from the Government Accountability Project gives a long view perspective on the new rules in pork inspection.
This article, featuring our Director of Public Health Amanda Hitt, was originally published here. U.S. Speeds Pig Slaughter Ahead of Looming China Supply Gap New Department of Agriculture regulations are set to bring U.S. pork processors a windfall. Under rule changes announced Tuesday, which include a “modernized” inspection system, hog slaughter can be faster and maximum speeds [...]