News: 2024
OSC Obtains Discipline of Two Senior Government Employees Involved in Unlawful Hiring Practices
Government officials cannot avoid consequences by transferring to a different agency. Government officials cannot avoid consequences by transferring to a different agency The U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) today...
MSPB Grants OSC’s Stay Request for VA Whistleblower Removed from Her Job
The MSPB granted a 45-day stay of removal for a VA employee who filed a retaliation complaint with OSC. The employee was removed from her job at the VA after...
Special Counsel Urges SSA to Allow Claimants Misinformed of Spousal Benefits to Refile for Full Relief
OSC alerted the President that claimants seeking spousal benefits have filed disadvantageous claims, even though claims examiners at SSA are required to provide information to help filers. The U.S. Office...
Special Counsel Dellinger, Colleagues Discuss Speech Rights of Federal Employees
Special Counsel Hampton Dellinger today participated in a panel discussion hosted by the American Bar Association on speech rights of federal employees. Special Counsel Hampton Dellinger today participated in a...
Special Counsel Questions Two Agency Investigations
Reports Reviewing FAA Flight Safety at Detroit Metropolitan Airport and CBP Emergency Responses in Texas Do Not Appear Reasonable *** Reports Reviewing FAA Flight Safety at Detroit Metropolitan Airport and...
OSC Remembers the late K. William O’Connor, Special Counsel (1982-86)
OSC recognizes the passing of K. William "Bill" O'Connor who served as Special Counsel from 1982-86. O’Connor passed away in October at the age of 93. The U.S. Office of...
OSC Applauds Settlement for Attorney Who Alleged Retaliation After Disclosing Sexual Misconduct by Alaska District Court Judge
OSC applauds a settlement the DOJ reached with a former AUSA who, while working for the Alaska U.S. Attorney’s Office, disclosed sexual misconduct by former U.S. District Court Judge Joshua...
VA Employee Agrees to 90-Day Unpaid Suspension for Violating the Hatch Act
OSC today announced a settlement agreement, including a 90-day unpaid suspension, reached with a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs employee whom OSC alleged violated the Hatch Act. The U.S. Office...
OSC Obtains Six-Figure Settlement for CBP Whistleblower Who Faced Retaliation for Disclosing Helicopter Safety Issues
OSC today announced a settlement agreement that OSC facilitated between U.S. Customs and Border Protection and a whistleblower, including significant compensatory damages for retaliation. The U.S. Office of Special Counsel...
OSC Files Hatch Act Complaint Against Senior White House Official for Soliciting Political Contributions
OSC has filed a Hatch Act complaint with the MSPB against Neera Tanden, the White House Domestic Policy Advisor, for soliciting political contributions on social media. The U.S. Office of...
Transparency Proposal Update: New ‘Work in Progress’ Webpage Provides Stats on Open Whistleblower Disclosure Investigations
OSC launched a new webpage that will, for the first time, publicly show the number of open whistleblower disclosure investigations. The U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) today launched a...
Special Counsel Dellinger Advocates Equivalent Pay for Federal Employee Military Reservists Called to Duty
Special Counsel Hampton Dellinger urges fair compensation for federal government employees who also serve part-time in the military. In an op-ed published in Military Times, Special Counsel Hampton Dellinger urges...
VA Employee Gets 70-day Suspension for Violating the Hatch Act
OSC today announces that a VA employee who violated the Hatch Act by sharing Facebook posts promoting partisan political fundraisers has agreed to a 70-day unpaid suspension. The U.S. Office...
OSC Announces Artificial Intelligence Policy to Promote Safety, Enhance Efficiency, and Protect Rights
The policy ensures that OSC is equipped to safely and responsibly manage artificial intelligence within the agency. The U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) today unveiled a new policy governing...
Three VA Whistleblowers Receive OSC’s 2024 Public Servant Award for Disclosing Improper Handling of Veterans’ Personal Information
OSC today announces three U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs whistleblowers as recipients of the 2024 OSC Public Servant award. The U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) today announces three U.S....
OSC Gets Positive Resolutions in Recent Retaliation Cases
OSC highlights recent cases facilitating positive resolutions of PPP matters involving federal employees, including whistleblower retaliation. The U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) today highlights recent cases in which OSC...
OSC Applauds MSPB Procedural Change Assigning In-House Judges to Hear Whistleblower Retaliation & Other PPP Cases
A procedural change announced today by MSPB assigning its own chief administrative judges to hear cases brought by OSC seeking corrective action for federal employees who allege retaliation or PPPs....
OSC Announces Hatch Act Enforcement Decisions
Navy Secretary Del Toro Found in Violation; Other Matters Closed, Including Involving Secretary Cardona and Former Attorney General Barr Navy Secretary Del Toro Found in Violation; Other Matters Closed, Including...
Special Counsel’s Proposal to Promote Transparency and Speed Up Agency Accountability
Special Counsel Hampton Dellinger today proposed ways to enhance OSC's approach to transparency and accountability. Special Counsel Hampton Dellinger today proposed ways to enhance the U.S. Office of Special Counsel's...
OSC Obtains Corrective Action for U.S. Army Physician Who Reported Safety Issues at Biosafety Laboratories
OSC today announced it settled a complaint against the U.S. Army seeking corrective action for a whistleblower who was retaliated against. Agreement is one of the largest compensatory damage settlements...
OSC Referral Prompts USDA to Provide Forest Service Officers with Required Emergency Communication Capabilities
OSC today alerted the President and Congress that the U.S. Forest Service failed to provide required emergency communication capabilities to agency law enforcement officers. The U.S. Office of Special Counsel...
OSC Mediation Program Achieving Positive Outcomes for Complainants and Agencies
Mediations are conducted by OSC attorney-mediators who have experience in both dispute resolution and OSC’s laws. The U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) plays a unique role in fostering a...
Special Counsel Dellinger Applauds Release of Wrongfully Detained Wall Street Journal Reporter Evan Gershkovich
Special Counsel Hampton Dellinger today applauded the release of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich who was arrested and accused of espionage in Russia on March 29, 2023. Special Counsel...
On National Whistleblower Appreciation Day, Special Counsel Offers Thanks and Recognizes Female Athletes, Tuskegee Syphilis Study Whistleblower
On behalf of OSC, Special Counsel Hampton Dellinger today released the following statement in honor of National Whistleblower Appreciation Day. On behalf of the Office of Special Counsel (OSC), Special...
Special Counsel Dellinger Statement on Assassination Attempt Investigation
Special Counsel Hampton Dellinger today released the following statement after the assassination attempt injuring former President Donald Trump. Special Counsel Hampton Dellinger today released the following statement after the assassination...
OSC Announces Key Staff Departures and Arrivals
OSC today announced key staff departures and arrivals in its Washington D.C. office The U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) today announced key staff departures and arrivals in its Washington...
Special Counsel Dellinger, OSC Applaud Anne Wagner’s Confirmation to the Federal Labor Relations Authority
Special Counsel Hampton Dellinger today congratulated Anne Wagner on her Senate confirmation to be a Member of the Federal Labor Relations Authority. Today, the U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC)...
Special Counsel Dellinger Calls for Permanent National Whistleblower Appreciation Day
In a letter to congressional leaders, Special Counsel Hampton Dellinger urged Congress to introduce and pass legislation permanently designating July 30th as National Whistleblower Appreciation Day. In a letter to...
OSC Seeks to Protect LGBTQI+ Employees in the Federal Workplace During Pride Month and Year Round
OSC reminds federal employees that if they believe they have been subjected to a prohibited personnel practice (PPP) based on sexual orientation or gender identity, they may seek assistance from...
U.S. Coast Guard Implements Corrective Actions to Address Unlawful NDAs that Chilled Whistleblowing
OSC today announced corrective actions taken by the U.S. Coast Guard to address its use of unlawful non-disclosure agreements entered into with sexual assault survivors and others. The U.S. Office...
OSC Files MSPB Amicus Brief Advocating for Broad Protections for Employees Contacting Investigators
As the agency responsible for protecting federal employee whistleblowers, OSC’s brief advocates for an expansive reading of the statute to maximize protections for employees . The U.S. Office of Special...
OSC Works to Support Military Veterans, Meets with Advocacy Groups to Expand Outreach & Education
OSC supports America’s veterans and is committed to helping improve military retiree care and ensure the employment rights of our returning uniformed service members. The U.S. Office of Special Counsel...
Special Counsel Dellinger Announces Updates to OSC’s Hatch Act Enforcement
Today, Special Counsel Hampton Dellinger announced several updates to the OSC's approach to Hatch Act enforcement. Today, Special Counsel Hampton Dellinger announced several updates to the Office of Special Counsel's...
OSC Once Again Named One of the Best Places to Work in the Federal Government
OSC today was recognized for the fourth year in a row as one of the best places to work in the federal government. The U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC)...
Special Counsel Dellinger, OSC Applaud Henry Kerner’s Confirmation as Board Member at MSPB
OSC and Special Counsel Hampton Dellinger extend their congratulations to former Special Counsel Henry J. Kerner on his unanimous U.S. Senate confirmation to MSPB. Today, the U.S. Office of Special...
Special Counsel Dellinger Statement on Public Service Recognition Week
This week is Public Service Recognition Week, a time each year when we show our particular appreciation for public servants across governments (federal, tribal, state, and local) for their vast...
Special Counsel Dellinger Announces Transition Leadership Team, Meets with All Agency Colleagues
Special Counsel Hampton Dellinger has named Karen Gorman as Acting Principal Deputy Special Counsel. Special Counsel Hampton Dellinger has named Karen Gorman as Acting Principal Deputy Special Counsel. Gorman, along...
OSC Announces Discipline for Two Federal Employees Who Knowingly Violated the Hatch Act
OSC today announced discipline, including a 90-day unpaid suspension and a 130-day unpaid suspension, for two federal employees who violated the Hatch Act. The U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC)...
MSPB Agrees with OSC on Key Issue in Whistleblower Retaliation Case, Upholding Protections for Federal Workers
OSC is highlighting the impact of OSC’s amicus curiae brief in a recent MSPB decision. Today, the U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) is highlighting the impact of OSC's amicus...
OSC Strongly Enforces the Prohibition Against Employee Gag Orders that Chill Whistleblowing
OSC is providing updated information on its enforcement of the anti‐gag order provision in the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act . Federal employees maintain certain constitutional and statutory “free speech" rights...
OSC Obtains Corrective Action for USCIS Whistleblower Fired in Retaliation for Reporting a Manager’s Misconduct
OSC announced that it has settled its complaint for corrective action filed with the MSPB against USCIS. The U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) today announced that it has settled...
Whistleblower Reveals Large Demolition Projects at Maryland Army Facility Risked Asbestos Exposure
OSC has alerted the President and Congress that officials at an Army facility in Aberdeen, Maryland were not compliant with asbestos safety requirements for years. The U.S. Office of Special...
Senate Confirms Hampton Dellinger as Special Counsel of OSC
Senate Confirms Hampton Dellinger as Special Counsel of OSC The U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) announces that Hampton Dellinger of North Carolina was confirmed by the Senate yesterday as...
Recent Cases Highlight OSC’s Effective Advocacy on Behalf of Whistleblowers Who Faced Retaliation
OSC highlights some recent cases in which OSC succeeded in getting federal agencies to redress the retaliatory actions the agencies took against whistleblowers. Each year the U.S. Office of Special...
VA Implements Corrective Action to Protect Laundry Staff from Contaminated Needles after Whistleblower Discloses Safety Hazard
OSC alerted the President and Congress to corrective action taken by the VA that will improve the safety of Laundry Service operations after a whistleblower disclosed finding syringes in laundry...