Failures at the Office of Special Counsel
The Project on Government Oversight recently submitted a report to the Obama Transition Team that documented a systematic lack of protection for whistleblowers in the federal government over the past few years.
It is important that the next President and Congress devote attention to appointing and confirming a Special Counsel who can return integrity to the OSC. The tenure of former Special Counsel Scott Bloch, who the President has placed on administrative leave until the end of Bloch’s term on December 12, 2008, has significantly weakened the agency. Since taking office in January 2004, Bloch repeatedly demonstrated a fundamental lack of understanding about whistleblowers, proper investigative procedures, employee free speech laws, and his responsibilities as a government manager. Additionally, Bloch has been heavily scrutinized by Congress, federal law enforcement agencies, the media, and public interest groups for obstruction of justice, and whistleblower retaliation. As a result of Bloch’s tenure, there was an exodus of experienced staff from the OSC, and a shift away from the OSC programs and policies that directly benefit federal employees.
I thought you might be interested in this letter written by Army Corps of Engineers whistleblower Bunny Greenhouse, who was retaliated against after she testified to Congress last week. Ms. Greenhouse is calling on all Americans to support whistleblower protection for federal employees. To read her letter go to http://capwiz.com/whistleblowers/issues/alert/?alertid=13371836
Comment by Lindsey — May 22, 2009 @ 3:32 pm