Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act would effectively overrule the Supreme Court’s “Garcetti v. Ceballos” ruling
Washington, DC. February 13, 2007. Last night the Chairman, Ranking Member and other leaders of the House Committee on Government Reform introduced a bi-partisan bill to protect federal employee whistleblowers from retaliation. If passed, the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act (H.R. 985) would strengthen federal employee protections in three major areas:
- It will create procedures for Federal employee whistleblowers to have their cases heard in Federal Court;
- It will close the loopholes which have prevented National Security Whistleblowers from obtaining protections;
- It will legislatively overturn the Supreme Court’s Garcetti v. Ceballos decision, which prevented Government whistleblowers from obtaining First Amendment protection when they reported concerns “internally” through their chain of command.
The National Whistleblowers Center strongly endorses the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act of 2007 and supports its prompt passage. Stephen Kohn, the Center’s Executive Director issued the following statement:
“The Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act of 2007 would end the second class citizenship of Federal employee whistleblowers. Federal employee whistleblowers have radically less protection than other employees who file discrimination claims. This law closes loopholes and sets up procedures which would permit judicial review and oversight for whistleblower cases.”
