FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

July 28, 2023

Government Accountability Project Praises House of Representatives for the Reintroduction of the Protecting Our Democracy Act

Act Includes Essential Whistleblower Protections

WASHINGTON – Yesterday morning, Congressman Adam Schiff and Speaker Emerita Pelosi held a press conference and release at the House Triangle to announce the re-introduction of the Protecting Our Democracy Act (PODA) to the House floor. This legislation gives Congress more oversight over the executive branch following the egregious abuse of power experienced under the previous administration. The possible passage of PODA brings with it the essential Whistleblower Protection Improvement Act (WPIA), which gives federal employees who speak out against waste, fraud, or abuse the same rights as federal contractors, like the right to a jury trial to seek justice against retaliation, among many others.

Our nation has witnessed first-hand how a president could abuse the powers of their office to protect and enrich themselves and their family and friends, target their political opponents, and solicit foreign interference to help their election – all at great cost to our democracy. Now, the House is reintroducing new nonpartisan laws and reforms to strengthen our democratic institutions against those who seek to undermine them.

The provisions within PODA:

  • Reinforce Congress’ power to enforce subpoenas, to make government funding decisions, and to conduct oversight over the executive branch;
  • Prevent the president from granting pardons to family, friends, or themselves, or from using the office to enrich themselves, or utilizing government resources for campaign purposes;
  • Explicitly prohibit political campaigns and parties from soliciting or accepting foreign assistance to influence an election;
  • Strengthen legal protections for federal employee whistleblowers, including expanding anti-gag provisions and providing a right to a jury trial equal to what is afforded federal contractor whistleblowers;
  • Give whistleblowers and all employees who communicate with Congress a jury trial in court to seek justice against retaliation if they do not receive a timely administrative ruling, a due process right available to nearly the entire private sector;
  • Allow federal whistleblowers to challenge retaliatory investigations when opened, the same as corporate, state and local employees;
  • Provide realistic standards for temporary relief, necessary because cases often drag out for five to ten years; and
  • Add teeth to frequently ignored confidentiality rights.

As the nation’s leading whistleblower protection organization, Government Accountability Project not only legally represents whistleblowers but knows the importance of laws that could either protect or undermine a whistleblower’s heroic disclosure. With the reintroduction of PODA and WPIA, it is clear that members of the House share our aspiration for transparency and accountability in our government as federal employees are the first line of defense against those that corrode our democratic systems.

Government Accountability Project’s CEO and Executive Director Louis Clark commented:

“For democracy to survive and thrive the American people and their elected representatives need truth-tellers within government.  Polls have found that 86% of registered voters of all political stripes are in favor of strong protections for whistleblowers.  They do not have that now, but with the passage of PODA they would have the strengthened legal protection that they deserve, voters demand, and our democracy itself must have to blunt the impact of harmful disinformation and government corruption.”

Contact: Andrew Harman, Government Accountability Project Communications Director
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 202.926.3304

Government Accountability Project is the nation’s leading whistleblower protection organization. Through litigating whistleblower cases, publicizing concerns and developing legal reforms, Government Accountability Project’s mission is to protect the public interest by promoting government and corporate accountability. Founded in 1977, Government Accountability Project is a nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy organization based in Washington, D.C.

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