Government Accountability

Government Accountability2023-12-06T08:05:41-05:00

Through a combination of investigation, litigation, advocacy, and educational outreach, Government Accountability Project has helped clients at all levels expose criminal activity and abuse from various federal agencies and departments. Frequently, we work with government investigators, regulators, and law enforcement agencies to convey client concerns.

Additionally, our team trains managers and staff on whistleblowing law and procedure both domestically and abroad. Over the course of our history, we have trained tens of thousands of employees, governmental leaders, and policy makers from around the globe.

For more than ten years, Government Accountability Project led a bipartisan coalition of over 400 organizations and companies in a campaign to restore whistleblower rights for federal government employees and contractors. On November 27, 2012, Government Accountability Project’s tireless work paid off and the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act (WPEA) was signed into law.

Issue Areas

Democracy Protection Initiative

The Democracy Protection Initiative is a nonpartisan program that builds upon our experience as a nation-leading whistleblower protection and advocacy organization. It recognizes the many threats our election faces, and is focused on preventing them through whistleblower disclosures.

Immigration

In 2018, Government Accountability Project began representing government whistleblowers who work within the U.S. immigration system. Our immigration whistleblowers range from medical professionals to asylum officers and attorneys, all of whom have bravely stepped forward to protect society’s most vulnerable populations.

We’re proud to represent immigration whistleblowers who help hold our immigration system accountable and protect the health and safety of asylum seekers, immigrants in detention, detention staff, and the surrounding communities.

Law Enforcement

Government Accountability Project supports the brave protestors and organizations who have tirelessly advocated for law enforcement accountability. As a public interest organization dedicated to promoting government and corporate accountability in service of justice, we pledge to continue to support those working toward these ends.

In order to do our part, we can and will contribute from our unique expertise in whistleblowing to this cause.

Veterans Affairs

Government Accountability Project is proud to advocate for American veterans through our work with whistleblowers from the Department of Veterans Affairs. Because of the agency’s size and influence, it’s important that potential whistleblowers know that they can make disclosures safely and securely.

All of these efforts are focused on creating a more effective and transparent institution.

Current Clients

Dr. Scott Allen and Dr. Pamela McPherson

Dr. Scott Allen and Dr. Pamela McPherson In July 2018, Government Accountability Project clients Dr. Scott Allen and Dr. Pamela McPherson, medical and mental health subject matter experts for the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (DHS/CRCL), made the brave decision to blow the whistle on the government’s child detention practices. Through their disclosures, they sought to prevent the ongoing risk of harm to children and families posed [...]

Ellen Gallagher

Ellen Gallagher Ellen Gallagher is a former policy adviser at the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (DHS-CRCL) and current employee at DHS’ Office of the Inspector General. She has blown the whistle on Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) use of solitary confinement on mentally ill and medically vulnerable adults across the 200+ immigration detention facilities in clear violation of federal laws and detention standards. Gallagher first reported her [...]

Doug Stephens

Doug Stephens Doug Stephens is a former Asylum Officer who resigned from USCIS in August 2019. He worked as an Asylum Officer in the San Francisco Aslyum ffice from September 2017 until August 31, 2019. Prior to his service in the asylum corps, he was a Deaprtment of Justice (DOJ) staff attorney for the San Francisco Immigration Court from September 2015 to September 2017. While at the Immigration Court, he reviewed 195 cases [...]

Brandon Coleman

Brandon Coleman A Marine Corps veteran and Addiction Therapist for the Phoenix Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Brandon Coleman witnessed a variety of improper and possibly unlawful practices. In 2014, Coleman disclosed to the U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) that suicidal veterans had been neglected, and left to walk out of the VA hospital without proper care. Following his disclosure, Coleman learned that his own medical records had been illegally accessed by a [...]

Robert MacLean

Robert MacLean In 2003, Federal Air Marshal Robert MacLean learned that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was planning to make up for budget shortfalls by temporarily canceling long-distance air marshall coverage, including during a known threat on the anniversary of 9/11. MacLean brought his concerns to a supervisor and three DHS Office of Inspector General field offices, but they all declined to act and told him to drop the issue. With no other [...]