Washington Post: Inspector General Warns Against Nonprofit IRD’s Gag Provisions
In a letter to non-profit organization International Relief and Development (IRD), a federal inspector general said more than half of departing employees signed agreements that contain gag provisions that violate whistleblower protection laws.
Similar to problematic banking and other corporate nondisclosure agreements, GAP launched a petition to SEC Chair Mary Jo White urging the agency to clarify and strengthen its Whistleblower Program by outlawing those efforts to silence whistleblowers.
Associated Press: USDA Overhauls Decades-Old Poultry Inspections
The Obama administration released its new overhaul for poultry plant inspections for the first time in more than 50 years. In a press release yesterday, GAP’s Food Integrity Campaign Director Amanda Hitt expressed outrage over the decision. Among other changes, it sharply reduces the number of federal inspectors on poultry processing plant lines.
Key Quote (Hitt): “The USDA has apparently made some changes to the initial regulation, but whatever is on paper does not reflect the reality that poultry inspectors have shared with us. Anonymous and public whistleblowers alike have asserted a resounding NO against this plan. The White House and the USDA should listen to their own employees.”
Related Articles: Food Safety News, Washington Post
The Guardian: Public Service Whistleblowers ‘Treated Shockingly’, Report Finds
A recent report accuses UK government officials of failing to put in place policies to protect whistleblowers despite their role in exposing a series of major scandals.
Michael Riley is a Communications Intern for the Government Accountability Project, the nation’s leading whistleblower protection and advocacy organization.