Whistleblower Complainants Rarely Qualify for Office of the Special Counsel Protection

摘要

The Office of the Special Counsel is an independent component of the Merit Systems Protection Board, charged by the Civil Service Reform Act with prosecuting violations of prohibited personnel practices--such as reprisal for whistleblowing--to secure both disciplinary and corrective action. The vast majority of complaints brought to the Special Counsel by federal employees are closed during the office's screening process. In assessing the need for stronger whistleblower protections, the Congress should consider that the Office of the Special Counsel is only one of the institutions involved in deterring reprisals against legitimate whistleblowers.