With a Senate vote Tuesday, Congress gave final approval to legislation strengthening protections for federal whistleblowers.
The measure, which advocates have been pushing for more than a decade, now goes to President Obama for his signature. The legislation is designed to protect employees who expose government wrongdoing from retaliation by supervisors.
The Office of Special Counsel (OSC), which will enforce the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act (WPEA), praised the Senate’s action. In a statement, OSC said the legislation will:
· “Overturn court decisions that narrowed protections for government whistleblowers;
· “Give whistleblower protections to employees who are not currently covered, including Transportation Security Administration officers;
· “Restore the Office of Special Counsel’s ability to seek disciplinary actions against supervisors who retaliate;
· “Hold agencies accountable for retaliatory investigations.”
Whistleblower advocates hailed congressional approval of the legislation.
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