News: 2025
OSC Delivers Exceptional Performance in Fiscal Year 2025
1/12/2026 Update: Please see Senior Counsel Charles Baldis' Op-ed in Government Executive titled "Safeguarding the Federal Merit System at the U.S. Office of Special Counsel," discussing how OSC has performed...
OSC Issues New Hatch Act Advisory Opinion Clarifying Jurisdiction Over Former Federal Employees
The U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) has issued a new Hatch Act Advisory Opinion clarifying its jurisdiction to enforce the Hatch Act against former federal employees for Hatch Act...
OSC Files Hatch Act Complaints Alleging Political Coercion, Misuse of Office in Chesapeake Sheriff’s Campaign
The U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) has filed two complaints with the U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) alleging that Sheriff David Rosado and Undersheriff Christopher Pascal of the...
OSC Recognizes Two Whistleblowers with 2025 Outstanding Public Servant Awards to Commemorate National Whistleblower Day
OSC Recognizes Two Whistleblowers with 2025 Outstanding Public Servant Awards Today, in commemoration of National Whistleblower Day, the U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) announced that two whistleblowers at the...
OSC Whistleblower Case Uncovers $2.5 Million Owed to Crime Victims, Courts
OSC Whistleblower Case Uncovers $2.5 Million Owed to Crime Victims, Courts Today, the U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) notified the President and Congress that the Department of Justice’s (DOJ’s)...
Whistleblowers Expose Lack of Mine Inspections Raising Serious Safety Concerns
Whistleblowers Expose Lack of Mine Inspections Raising Serious Safety Concerns Today, the U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) alerted the President and Congress that a U.S. Department of Labor (DOL)...
Whistleblowers Expose Hazardous Workplace Conditions at USDA Research Facility
Whistleblowers Expose Hazardous Workplace Conditions at USDA Research Facility Today, the U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) notified the President and Congress that a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) investigation...
OSC Institutes New Policy to Encourage Rewarding Whistleblowers
OSC Institutes New Policy to Encourage Rewarding Whistleblowers The U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) today introduced a policy encouraging agencies to provide monetary rewards in some cases to federal...
OSC Issues Report to the President Finding Hatch Act Violation by Former SSA Commissioner
OSC Finds Hatch Act Violation by Former SSA Commissioner The U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) today transmitted a report to President Donald J. Trump finding that Martin O'Malley, former...
OSC Files Amicus Brief with MSPB on Case Challenging Termination of Probationary Employees
OSC Files Amicus Brief with MSPB on Case Challenging Termination of Probationary Employees Today, the U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) filed an amicus curiae or “friend of the court”...
OSC Announces Updates to Hatch Act Enforcement Rescinds past Advisory Opinions
Today, the U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) announces a new advisory rescinding the Hatch Act advisory opinion dated May 20, 2024, and a related advisory opinion dated October 15,...
OSC Makes Public Findings on VA Failure to Secure Firearms Used in Kansas Killings
OSC alerted the President that management at a VA Police Dept in Kansas failed to remove access to agency firearms from an officer following the issuance of a protective order,...
MSPB Grants Stays of Probationary Employee Terminations
OSC announces that the MSPB has granted initial requests to “stay,” or pause, the terminations of six probationary employees across various executive branch agencies. The U.S. Office of Special Counsel...
Special Counsel Dellinger Statement on Request that MSPB Stay Terminations of Probationary Employees
Last Friday, Special Counsel Dellinger filed initial requests to “stay,” or pause, the apparently impermissible terminations of six probationary employees across various executive branch agencies. Last Friday, Special Counsel Hampton...
OSC Files Hatch Act Complaint Seeking Discipline Against FEMA Employee for Political Discrimination in Aftermath of Hurricane Milton
OSC filed a Hatch Act complaint seeking discipline against Marn’i Washington, a former FEMA employee, who in October 2024 instructed subordinates to avoid visiting homes with Trump campaign signs. The...
OSC Obtains Stay, Files Complaint on Behalf of VA Employee Removed in Retaliation for Protected Whistleblowing
OSC today announced it has been granted an indefinite stay by the U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) halting the probationary removal of a Department of Veterans Affairs whistleblower. The...
Dellinger Thanks Cathy Harris for Service, Accomplishments as MSPB Chair, Congratulates Henry Kerner on Appointment
Special Counsel Hampton Dellinger today released the following statement after President Donald J. Trump yesterday announced that Henry J. Kerner will replace Cathy Harris as Chair of the MSPB. Special...
Special Counsel Provides Update on Implementation of OSC’s Transparency and Accountability Proposal
After review and consideration of feedback received in response to his transparency and accountability proposal, Special Counsel Hampton Dellinger today announced updates to OSC’s procedures. After review and consideration of...
VA Acknowledges Long Delays in Processing Millions of Dollars in Refunds Owed to Veterans but Fails to Provide Plan to Fix
OSC released a summary of a review conducted by the VA at OSC’s request finding a significant backlog of charges that have not been processed for potential refunds owed to...
OSC Concludes Review of Airline Safety Allegations with Special Counsel Questioning Some Agency Conclusions
OSC today alerted the President and Congress of findings issued in response to several allegations brought to OSC by Transportation and Security Administration (TSA) whistleblower Robert MacLean. The U.S. Office...
OSC’s 2024 Accomplishments Include Record Breaking Results and First Ever Actions
OSC today released a summary of the agency’s accomplishments during the 2024 fiscal and calendar year.. The U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) today released a summary of the agency's...