Artificial intelligence (AI) shapes decisions in the workplace and influences the information people consume every day. As AI becomes more embedded in modern culture and global infrastructure, the need for accountability has become increasingly necessary. That is why the passage of the AI Whistleblower Protection Act (AIWPA) is one of the National Whistleblower Center’s (NWC) central policy goals.
NWC has made AI the focus in its new congressional survey, which gauges where congressional members stand on the AIWPA and on whistleblower protections more broadly. In this Sunday Read, we’ll discuss how the survey can help influence the future of AI governance and the broader whistleblower landscape by asking elected officials to say plainly whether or not they support the people who expose wrongdoing.
AIWPA Background
The AIWPA is rooted in a simple but urgent principle: as technology becomes more powerful, the people who raise concerns about it must be protected. AI systems can amplify bias, obscure accountability, and cause harm at a massive scale when deployed without sufficient oversight. Yet the workers, researchers, and public servants who recognize those risks may face retaliation for speaking up. The AIWPA is intended to help close that gap by strengthening protections for those who come forward in the public interest.
NWC collaborated with Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) to help draft the bipartisan AIWPA, which is designed to protect workers in the sector who report wrongdoing tied to AI systems.
“Transparency brings accountability,” Grassley said in 2025. “Today, too many people working in AI feel they’re unable to speak up when they see something wrong. Whistleblowers are one of the best ways to ensure Congress keeps pace as the AI industry rapidly develops. We need to act to make these protections crystal clear. I’m proud to introduce this legislation to increase accountability and protect AI whistleblowers.”
By championing the AIWPA, which remains one of NWC’s major campaigns, the Center highlights why those who develop, deploy, and monitor AI must be able to warn regulators and the public about harms to national security, civil rights, or safety. The bill remains active but stalled in committee.
Why The Data and Survey Matter
A Marist Poll commissioned by Whistleblower Network News found overwhelming backing for stronger protections for both public sector and corporate whistleblowers. The poll showcased broad bipartisan support and a clear sense that Congress should treat corporate fraud as a priority.
81% of likely voters said passing stronger laws to protect employees who report corporate fraud should be a congressional priority, and 86% supported stronger legal protections for federal whistleblowers.
The new survey gives Congress a direct opportunity to answer questions about whistleblower policy instead of leaving their position to inference. “That matters,” said NWC Program Manager Jeana Lee, “because support for whistleblowers is broad, but policy action often lags behind public opinion.”
By collecting members’ responses on the AIWPA and whistleblower protections in general, NWC can then identify which lawmakers to focus their advocacy efforts on and which lawmakers they can count on for support.
Seeing the Bigger Picture
Marist found that 44% of likely voters would be more inclined to support a congressional candidate who backs stronger whistleblower protections, showing that these issues can influence civic and electoral engagement. The NWC survey helps translate that public sentiment into accountability on Capitol Hill.
“The 2026 midterm elections are approaching, which presents another opportunity for voters to ask what kind of democratic culture they want to preserve,” Lee noted. “Whistleblower protections are not a technical policy issue tucked away in the margins. They are part of the machinery that helps democracy function.”
In recent years, public trust in institutions has been tested by political conflict, federal workforce upheaval, and recurring battles over the independence of the civil service. Cases like Trump v. Slaughter explore whether a U.S. president has the constitutional authority to fire members of independent federal agencies at will. Such matters have only heightened concern about the fragility of accountability when the independence of agencies is threatened.
Lee noted that matters like Trump v. Slaughter demonstrate why the survey matters to voters.
“When federal workers are being silenced and removed, the survey gives the public a clearer picture of where their representatives stand on whistleblower issues and how much they value government accountability,” she said.
Tracking Congressional Positions on Whistleblowing
NWC has made it possible to track where members of Congress stand on the AIWPA and whistleblower protections.
The newly launched NWC Survey Tracker makes congressional members’ positions on whistleblowing more visible to the public. It lets voters quickly see whether their representatives have responded, which ones support the AIWPA, and which ones still need pressure to take whistleblower protections seriously.
That transparency is valuable because it turns a behind-the-scenes advocacy effort into a public record that voters, journalists, and supporters can mobilize.
“The tracker acts as a practical organizing tool for NWC,” Lee said. “Supporters can follow up with their members of Congress, encourage a response, and help build momentum for passage of the bill. It ultimately helps ensure lawmakers take a stand on an issue that affects both whistleblowers and the public they protect.”
