Senate Passes Widened Whistleblower Protections

The Senate has joined the House in passing legislation (HR-169) to strengthen protections of federal employees under anti-discrimination and whistleblower protection laws. The measure: specifies information and training employees must be given regarding their rights under those laws; requires agencies to report on the cases arising under those laws and the steps they take to discipline those who violate employee protections; and requires that when agencies lose judgments or make settlements in harassment, discrimination and whistleblower cases, they must pay any financial penalty out of their own budget, rather than out of a general federal judgment fund. Because of certain differences between the two versions, the bill now will either have to go to a House-Senate conference or be brought to a second House vote.