Washington DC. March 6, 2012. Yesterday, Senator Charles Grassley and Representative Darrell Issa released a letter asking the Obama Administration for assistance in assessing the e-mail monitoring policies of all federal agencies. This letter was sent in light of Congressional and Office of Special Counsel investigations into the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) illegal targeting of whistleblowers for highly-intrusive monitoring.
The Congressional investigations raised the "broader question about
the policies and practices for electronic surveillance at other federal
agencies" and asked the Obama Administration's Office of Management and
Budget to conduct a survey of every federal agency's policy.
These investigations were sparked by a lawsuit filed by six FDA whistleblowers and documents released by
the National Whistleblowers Center that show the FDA intercepted
personal communications to Congress, including emails to House Oversight
and Government Reform Committee.
Lindsey M. Williams, NWC Director of Advocacy and Development, said:
Federal employees should have free reign to report waste, fraud and
abuse to responsible government authorities using government or personal
property. Americans should be concerned that Congress even has to ask
the question, "Can an employee use taxpayer-funded equipment to blow the
whistle on government misconduct?"
However, a broader inquiry is necessary because the events at FDA
suggest that other agencies may be engaging in similar illegal activity.
The Congressional investigation into how each and every federal agency
is monitoring its employees' personal e-mail accounts is the logical
next step in this investigation. Congress and the OSC are truly doing
their job by making sure that no other agency is illegally spying on
whistleblowers.
The NWC issued an Action Alert
strongly encouraging the public to send emails to the President, FDA
officials, and members of Congress demanding that the six whistleblowers
be protected and targeted surveillance be halted throughout the federal
government.
Links:
Grassley and Issa's Letter to OMB
OSC Press Release Announcing Investigation
Press Release on House and Senate Investigations
FDA Whistleblower Complaint
Intercepted Emails from FDA Whistleblowers
Letter from the HHS OIG
Whistleblowers' Letter to Obama Transition Team
NWC Action Alert
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