FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
January 18, 2022
U.S. Department of Interior Pays $100,000 to Trump Administration Whistleblower
Whistleblower’s Complaint Alleged Illegal Retaliation by Officials
WASHINGTON—Government Accountability Project applauds the recent payment of $100,000 by the Department of the Interior (DOI) to its client, who wishes to remain anonymous, to settle a whistleblower complaint alleging illegal retaliation by Trump administration officials.
The client – among the most outstanding employees in the federal government – spearheaded an award-winning program that has revolutionized the fighting of wildfires and other DOI missions. They also disclosed a whistleblower complaint to Congress of gross mismanagement by Trump administration officials that was harming the program. Those officials learned of the client’s disclosures and began a campaign of retaliation which included the wrongful denial of pay and benefits.
With Government Accountability Project’s assistance, the client filed a whistleblower complaint with the U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC), the independent federal agency that aids whistleblowers. OSC was instrumental in bringing DOI to the negotiating table, leading to the payment of $100,000 to the client. The settlement does not have a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) or an admission of liability.
Government Accountability Project Of Counsel David Z. Seide, who represented the client, said:
This is an outstanding result. Our client was hurt by arbitrary and wrongful retaliatory acts by Trump officials, rightly exercised their federal whistleblower rights and was ultimately vindicated. We thank OSC and its staff for their assistance.
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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