News: 2017
Judge Orders Removal of NOAA Employee for Hatch Act Violations
OSC prevailed in a disciplinary action against a NOAA employee who repeatedly ran as a candidate in primary elections for the state of Washington. Earlier this month, the U.S. Office...
President Signs OSC Reauthorization Act into Law; Measure Clarifies that Federal Agencies May Not Withhold Information from OSC
President Trump today signed into law legislation reauthorizing the U.S. Office of Special Counsel. President Donald Trump today signed into law legislation reauthorizing the U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC)....
VA Whistleblower, Office of Special Counsel Obtain VA Fixes to Provide Better Care to Suicidal Veterans Nationwide
OSC has notified President Trump that it resolved a case of a VA whistleblower’s allegations of unsatisfactory care for suicidal veterans at a VA medical center in Albuquerque, New Mexico....
OSC Files Hatch Act Complaint Against VA Doctor
OSC has filed a complaint for disciplinary action with the Merit Systems Protection Board against a VA doctor, charging him with 15 counts of violating the Hatch Act. The U.S....
OSC Notes Confusion Over Patient Restraint Policies at VA Albany Medical Center, Finds Corrective Action Encouraging
OSC today wrote President Trump and publicly revealed the results of an investigation by the VA into whistleblower allegations of instances of excessive use of physical restraints. The U.S. Office...
OSC Agrees EPA’s Office of Civil Rights Used Inefficient, Delayed Process in EEOC Cases
OSC sent a letter to President Trump agreeing with an EPA whistleblower who alleged serious process deficiencies in the handling of cases under EEOC regulations. The Office of Special Counsel...
OSC Applauds Enactment of the Dr. Chris Kirkpatrick Whistleblower Protection Act of 2017
OSC applauds the U.S. Congress for passing and President Trump for signing the Dr. Chris Kirkpatrick Whistleblower Protection Act of 2017 (S. 585) into law. The U.S. Office of Special...
Senate Confirms Henry Kerner to the Office of Special Counsel
OSC announces that Henry Kerner of California has received Senate confirmation of his Presidential nomination as Special Counsel, U.S. Office of Special Counsel. The U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC)...
Veterans Affairs Whistleblower Exposes Intentional Manipulation of Patient Data
OSC reported that a VA Medical Center intentionally manipulated patient data to artificially reduce reported wait times and the volume of patient visits. In a letter sent to the White...
OSC Files Amicus Curiae Brief Opposing Higher Burdens on Federal Employee Whistleblowers
OSC filed an amicus curiae (“friend of the court”) brief in Karl v. Merit Systems Protection Board, a whistleblower retaliation case before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal...
Recent Cases Highlight OSC’s Many Resolutions of Federal Employee Prohibited Personnel Practice Complaints
OSC has resolved cases involving alleged violations of the Whistleblower Protection Act at a variety of federal agencies. The U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) recently resolved cases involving alleged...
OSC Welcomes New Principal Deputy Special Counsel Tristan Leavitt to serve as Acting Special Counsel
The U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) is pleased to announce that Tristan Leavitt joined the agency in June as Principal Deputy Special Counsel, and is currently serving as Acting...
Despite Safety Assurances, Whistleblower Concerns About Flood Risks at Nuclear Power Plants Persist
An investigation by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission found that 19 nuclear power stations failed to protect against the risk of flooding. Today, the U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) reported...
OSC Reauthorization Act, Whistleblower Appreciation Resolution Pass Senate
The U.S. Senate passed legislation to reauthorize OSC and honoring federal employee whistleblowers. Yesterday, the U.S. Senate passed legislation to reauthorize the U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC). The Senate...
OSC Obtains Stay in Department of Interior Case
OSC obtained a 45‐day stay from the MSPB that blocks the termination of an employee of the U.S. Department of the Interior. Today, the U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC)...
OSC Settles Former GSA Commissioner’s Whistleblower Case; Finds GSA’s Response to Confirmed Mismanagement Inadequate
The GSA grossly mismanaged its Technology Transformation Service, according to a report submitted by GSA to OSC. The General Services Administration (GSA) grossly mismanaged its Technology Transformation Service (TTS), according...
OSC Lauds Passage of Laws Filling Gaps in Whistleblower Protections
OSC applauds the U.S. Congress for enacting two bills that will fill small but important gaps in the Whistleblower Protection Act as amended. The U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC)...
Shortcomings in Veterans Crisis Line and Nationwide VA Drug-Testing Protocols
In letters to the White House and Congress today, the U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) reported on deficiencies in Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) programs serving veterans in crisis,...
OSC Files Amicus Curiae Brief Opposing Additional Burden on Federal Employee Whistleblowers
OSC filed an amicus curiae brief in a whistleblower retaliation case on appeal before the Merit Systems Protection Board. Today, the U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) filed an amicus...
OSC Issues Two Reports On Hiring Violations at Federal Agencies
OSC recently issued two reports concerning prohibited personnel practices at DOJ and the U.S. Department of the Treasury. The U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) recently issued two reports concerning...
OSC Files Two Amicus Curiae Briefs Opposing Restrictions on Federal Employee Whistleblower Rights
OSC filed two amicus curiae (“friend of the court”) briefs seeking to overturn decisions that restrict whistleblower protections for federal workers. The U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) recently filed...
OSC Obtains Stay Returning Navy Safety Manager to Job Pending Fuller Investigation
OSC yesterday obtained a 45‐day stay from the Merit Systems Protection Board that reinstates a civilian Navy safety manager while OSC investigates his claim of whistleblower retaliation. The U.S. Office...
OSC Assists Federal Workers in National Guard and Reserves with Employment Claims
OSC resolved a number of cases on behalf of service members under USERRA, and assisted two federal agencies in revising regulations to comply with the law. The U.S. Office of...
VA Inadequately Addresses Deficiencies in Cardiovascular Care at Chicago Area Hospital
The VA failed to adequately address a whistleblower’s disclosures of deficiencies in cardiovascular care at a Chicago VA hospital. In a letter to the White House and Congress today, the...
OSC Supports Further Improvements to Federal Whistleblower Protections
Eric Bachman, deputy special counsel for litigation and legal affairs, testified before a House Oversight and Government Reform subcommittee on OSC's enforcement efforts of WPEA. This afternoon, Eric Bachman, deputy...
OSC’s Enforcement of the Anti-Gag Order Provision in Whistleblower Law
OSC is releasing information on its enforcement of the anti‐gag order provision in the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act The U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) is releasing information on its...
Phoenix VA Whistleblower Exposes Significant Patient Wait Times
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) hospital in Phoenix, Arizona continues to struggle with significant patient wait times, according to confirmed whistleblower disclosures. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) hospital...
Federal Agencies Are Required to Educate Employees on Whistleblower Protections
OSC reminds agencies across the federal government about their obligation to participate in OSC’s 2302(c) Certification Program. Agencies are required to become certified under OSC’s program. The U.S. Office of...