The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee has approved legislation giving whistleblower protections to federal employees who work on national security issues.
HR-985, the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act of 2007, was re-introduced by committee chair Henry Waxman, D-Calif. and ranking Republican Tom Davis, R-Va., among others.
It would also extend protections to security contractors when reporting waste, fraud, or abuse, and includes a clarification regarding the disclosure by federal scientists of actions that could compromise the integrity of federal science, criticizing "the politicization of science" in recent years.
A statement on the committee’s website said existing protections for employees are deficient, and that because security employees have been vetted — deemed trustworthy enough to work on sensitive matters — they should be afforded certain protections.
The bill also responds to recent court decisions that have limited the scope of disclosures protected under the current law, by clarifying that "any" disclosure regarding waste, fraud, or abuse is not restricted "as to time, place, form, motive, context, or prior disclosure" and includes both formal or informal communication.
Under the legislation a whistleblower could rebut the presumption that a federal official acted legally by providing substantial evidence, rather than irrefutable proof, as is currently required.
Whistleblowers would also be given access to federal district courts if the MSPB does not take action on their claims within 180 days.