Panels on National Whistleblower Appreciation Day
This week, GAP celebrates National Whistleblower Appreciation Day (tomorrow, July 30) with four panel discussions on Capitol Hill that address serious and current issues facing corporate and government whistleblowers. The discussions, which feature prominent whistleblowers and high-profile advocates, focus on the challenges that employees encounter when exposing corruption in the corporate financial sector, intelligence community, and federal government. Three panels will take place tomorrow. For complete information, click here.
TechDirt: Former CIA/NSA Boss Michael Hayden Admits Ed Snowden was a Whistleblower
Former NSA and CIA boss Michael Hayden has previously called GAP client and NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden a traitor. But at a recent security conference, Hayden finally admitted that Snowden is a whistleblower. Watch the accidental honesty here (at 21:50).
Key Quote: (Hayden) “When Snowden blew the whistle on the 215 program… that’s the metadata stuff, the phone bills up at Ft. Meade….”
The Hill: NASA Moves to Protect Whistleblowers
A new regulation enacted by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) purports to protect employees of agency contractors or subcontractors if they blow the whistle. According to the agency, “government contractors will not be allowed to fire, demote or otherwise discipline employees who blow the whistle on their own companies for abusing their authority by mismanaging a NASA contract, wasting NASA funds, or endangering public health or safety.”
Wall Street Journal: Meet the SEC’s 6,500 Whistleblowers
More than 6,500 people from 68 countries have offered confidential information to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) under its three-year old Whistleblower Program. Last week, to fight on behalf of these whistleblowers, GAP launched a petition to SEC Chair Mary Jo White urging the agency to clarify and strengthen its program.
News Tribune (WA): Whistleblower in Fife Police Department Files Retaliation Lawsuit Against City
A policeman whistleblower from a city in Washington state has filed suit, claiming he was subject to retaliation that resulted from his opposition to department misconduct.
Michael Riley is a Communications Intern for the Government Accountability Project, the nation’s leading whistleblower protection and advocacy organization.