Government Accountability Project's Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic

Covid-19: How We’re Responding

Since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus spread to the US in January 2020 and following the economic shutdown and stay-at-home orders, Government Accountability Project has been working with whistleblowers seeking to alert the public and our elected officials about Covid-related misconduct, fraud, and abuse of authority. Two of our clients Drs. Scott Allen and Jody Rich blew the whistle on the threat the spread of Covid-19 in ICE detention facilities represented to immigrants lives and local health settings. They sent a letter to Congress, and CNN reported their disclosure that Covid represented a “Tinderbox Scenario.” Dr. Allen later testified before the Senate Judiciary committee regarding health risks to immigrants held in detention. We also have been working with many other whistleblowers whose remain anonymous at this time to amplify their disclosures about the failed federal response to the international pandemic. To learn more about our current clients, visit our current clients page.

How to Report Covid Wrongdoing

Report Covid-Related Wrongdoing Today!

Have you witnessed Covid-related wrongdoing in the workplace? We can help you make a difference.
If you have any questions about our intake process or who we can help, check out our Frequently Asked Questions page.
If you need help blowing the whistle, fill out our in-take form today.

Covid Media Center

New York Times: A suit filed by the A.C.L.U. accuses ICE jailers of denying detainees vaccines

A suit filed by the A.C.L.U. accuses ICE jailers of denying detainees vaccines This article excerpt features Government Accountability Project’s whistleblower clients, Drs. Scott Allen and Josiah “Jody” Rich, and was originally published here. "People with health conditions that place them at high risk from Covid-19 have been denied access to coronavirus vaccine booster shots while in federal immigration detention, the American Civil Liberties Union said in a lawsuit filed on Tuesday. The suit was [...]

A Celebration of Black Whistleblowers Who Made History

A Celebration of Black Whistleblowers Who Made History In honor of Black History Month, our nation celebrates the brave individuals who have stood up for their communities and for what is right, even when it endangers themselves. Over the past few years, our country has had a reckoning with its long history of racism as protests like Black Lives Matter occur across the country, voting rights legislation struggles through Congress, and countless other movements [...]

KQED: Reports Show COVID Boosters Are Lagging in ICE Detention, Advocates Call for State to Intervene

Reports Show COVID Boosters Are Lagging in ICE Detention, Advocates Call for State to Intervene This article features Government Accountability Project’s whistleblower clients, Drs. Scott Allen and Josiah “Jody” Rich, and was originally published here. Immigrant advocates say the rollout of COVID-19 boosters at federal immigration detention centers in California has been sluggish and uneven, and they’re asking the state to intervene to protect detainees’ health. Confirmed coronavirus cases among people locked up by U.S. Immigration [...]

NACLA: U.S. Immigration Detention System: “A Living Hell”

U.S. Immigration Detention System: “A Living Hell”This article features Government Accountability Project’s whistleblower client, Dawn Wooten, and was originally published here.In mid-September 2020, Dawn Wooten, a nurse at the Irwin County Detention Center in Ocilla, Georgia, filed a whistleblower complaint alleging dangerous medical practices at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility. According to The Intercept, which first broke the story, Irwin had “underreported Covid-19 cases, knowingly placed staff and detainees at risk of contracting the virus, [...]

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Our Covid Response

Following the guidance of Mayor Muriel Bowser and CDC guidelines for social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government Accountability Project team has moved to remote working for the foreseeable future. Our staff continues to work tirelessly to champion whistleblowers and make sure every disclosure makes a difference. The Government Accountability Project team has been working to amplify whistleblowers’ disclosures on many fronts during the coronavirus pandemic.

Education & Partnerships: We’re educating whistleblowers and the public about their rights at a time when disclosures are critical to protect lives. We’re publishing new resources, like this one-stop guide for federal workers, “Truth-Telling in Government: A Guide for Federal Employees, Contractors, and Grantees.”
Legislation: Our team has been working with allies in Congress to ensure whistleblower protections are included in coronavirus-related legislation and to make sure the billions of dollars that the legislature has allocated for the Covid-19 response are accountably spent.
Litigation & Representation: We are representing Covid whistleblowers, assisting them in preparing for Congressional testimony, and making sure that those who speak up are protected from retaliation.
Investigation: We are investigating instances of Covid-related misconduct and working with journalists to share our clients’ disclosures with the American public.

Covid Resources

Truth-Telling in Government: A Guide to Whistleblowing for Federal Employees, Contractors, & Grantees

Our government’s integrity depends on the commitment and effort of millions of federal employees, contractors and grantees around the world. Those same workers are in the best position to learn when decisions and actions deviate from the core mission and responsibilities of government, be it through corruption, failing to comply with laws and regulations, wasting taxpayer money, jeopardizing public health and safety, or otherwise abusing the public trust.

Just in the past year alone, government whistleblowers have exposed abuse of migrants in detention centers, risks to food safety from contaminated pork, President Trump’s efforts to pressure Ukraine to announce an investigation into a political rival, and problems with the government’s response to the coronavirus. Through whistleblowing, ethical truth-tellers provide public service through their speech. But exercising those rights often comes with professional risk.

Government Accountability Project’s newest resource seeks to help federal government employees, contractors, and grantees–across all agencies and issues—who have discovered serious abuses of public trust and need guidance about their rights, risks and options.

Whether you have yet to raise concerns or have already made disclosures, this guide is the first step for navigating the complex path of whistleblowing safely and effectively.

Download your free copy.

For additional resources about whistleblowing, visit https://whistleblower.org/resources/

Sr. Counsel Dana Gold interviews whistleblowers Drs. Scott Allen and Jody Rich

Watch this conversation with Senior Counsel Dana Gold and our clients Drs. Scott Allen and Jody Rich. Our guests discuss…

Posted by Government Accountability Project on Thursday, May 14, 2020

Sr. Counsel Dana Gold discuss resources for federal whistleblowers

Posted by Government Accountability Project on Tuesday, April 14, 2020