Prior to initiating a report of classified information under section 8H of the Inspector General Act, the employee should carefully review the Inspector General Act’s provisions or contact the OIG Whistleblower Protection Coordinator for additional information. No one should ever be subject to or threatened with reprisal for coming forward with a protected disclosure. It is unlawful for any personnel action to be taken against you because of your whistleblowing.

The WPA protects disclosures made to any audience, as long as disclosure of the underlying information is not "specifically prohibited by law" or the information disclosed is not "specifically required by Executive order to be kept secret in ...

August 5, 2024 - An employee may disclose information to any person, except where the information is required by law or presidential order to be kept confidential. There is no requirement that an employee proceed incrementally through the employee’s chain of command. The WPA also protects any disclosure that meets the other statutory requirements. Overturning prior case law, the WPEA clarified that a whistleblower disclosure is protected:

However, classified disclosures ... Act (WPA) was established to ensure that employees who engage in protected disclosure are free from fear of reprisal for their disclosures....

OPM employees, contractors, ... disclosure.” A disclosure is protected if it is based on a reasonable belief that wrongdoing has occurred and if the disclosure is made to a person or entity that is authorized to receive it....

The WPA also provides penalties for supervisors who retaliate against whistleblowers. A disclosure is protected under the WPA if the employee discloses information the employee reasonably believes to be evidence of

Federal officials are prohibited ... is protected if it is based on a reasonable belief that wrongdoing has occurred and if the disclosure is made to a person or entity authorized to receive it....

conduct that often goes hand in hand with making a protected disclosure such as assisting in a related investigation. ...  Protects an individual for refusing to follow an order that would require them to violate a law, rule, or regulation.9 · 1 Whistleblower Protection Act, 5 U.S.C.

The WPEA protects disclosures that an employee reasonably believes are evidence of censorship related to research, analysis, or technical information that causes, or will cause, a gross government waste or gross mismanagement, an abuse of authority, a substantial and specific danger to public health or safety, or any violation of law. It expands the penalties imposed for violating whistleblower protections and establishes the position of Whistleblower Protection Ombudsman.

This prohibited personnel practice prohibits agency officials from taking, failing to take, or threatening to take a personnel action because of an employee's whistleblowing. Protected whistleblowing includes disclosures that the employee reasonably believes to be:

March 23, 2026 - Whistleblower retaliation occurs when an employer (through a supervisor, administrator, or other person with authority) takes an adverse employment action against an employee for making a protected disclosure. To be protected, a disclosure must meet the following criteria:

A federal employee who reports ... believes is: ... A substantial and specific danger to public health or safety. Although these definitions may appear simple, the analysis of whistleblower cases can be factually and legally complicated. Federal employees can report wrongdoing (also known as ...

The Whistleblower Protection Act of 1989 (5 U.S.C. § 2302(b)(8)) established the foundational federal definition for most civilian federal employees: a disclosure is protected if the employee reasonably believes the information evidences a violation of any law, rule, or regulation; gross mismanagement; a gross waste of funds; an abuse of authority; or a substantial and specific danger to public health or safety (U.S.

September 30, 2025 - In the US, protected disclosure laws aim to safeguard individuals who report wrongdoing or misconduct within their organizations. The False Claims Act is a key example of such legislation.

Legal Disclaimer: This document is for general informational purposes only. Its contents are not legal advice. A note on classified information: The WPA protects · disclosures of classified information to Congress if

March 19, 2025 - Whistleblowing is a fundamental aspect of free speech that allows individuals to expose wrongdoing. However, not all disclosures are legally protected, and it’s important to ensure that yours are before proceeding.

May 13, 2026 - The Whistleblower Protection Act and the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act cover federal employees who disclose information they reasonably believe shows certain kinds of wrongdoing.

March 23, 2026 - Both the WPA and the Inspector General Act of 1978 state that a whistleblower’s identity must be protected unless the employee making the disclosure consents to disclosing their identity.

There are, however, limits on the Commission's ability to shield your identity. The Commission will not disclose information that could reasonably identify a whistleblower without consent of the whistleblower, except in the following circumstances: When disclosure is required to a defendant or respondent in connection with a public proceeding that the Commission institutes or in another public proceeding that is filed by other governmental or regulatory entities to which the Commission provides the information, as described below;