Press Releases
OSC Issues Hatch Act Advisory Opinion to Address Federal Employees’ Activities after Election Day
Each presidential election year, OSC receives questions from federal employees about permissible and prohibited activities under the Hatch Act after Election Day. OSC today issued an advisory opinion Each presidential...
New Framework Clarifies Referral Policies for IG Whistleblower Disclosures
OSC and CIGIE recently issued a memorandum outlining two agreements concerning the handling of 5 U.S.C. § 1213 referrals involving Offices of Inspector General officials and their employees. The U.S....
Active Threat Police Drills Put Veterans, Officers, and VA Employees in Danger at PA Healthcare Center
OSC today alerted the President after a whistleblower disclosed that Police Service leadership conducted dangerous training drills at a VA healthcare facility in Pennsylvania. The U.S. Office of Special Counsel...
Navy Employee Fined, Debarred from Federal Service for Numerous Hatch Act Violations
OSC today announced a settlement agreement reached with a former civilian Navy employee in Hawaii who admitted to numerous Hatch Act violations. The U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) today...
OSC Clarifies its Hatch Act Role in Light of Republican National Convention
In light of significant media interest in the Hatch Act and its application to the Republican National Convention, OSC today released the following information to clarify its role. In light...
Cattle Producers Recoup a Half-Million Dollars for Crop Losses after being Improperly Denied by USDA
OSC sent letters to the President and Congress outlining how a USDA whistleblower worked with OSC to ensure cattle producers were compensated more than a half-million dollars for crop losses....
Whistleblower Disclosure Led VA to Reimburse Veterans Charged for Emergency Ambulance Services
OSC today sent letters to the President and Congress outlining how a VA whistleblower worked with OSC to ensure veterans were fully reimbursed for ambulance transportation services. The U.S. Office...
OSC Files Amicus Curiae Brief Reaffirming Federal Employees’ Right to Engage in Protected Activities
OSC filed an amicus curiae (friend of the court) brief with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in support of protections for federal employees who engage in...
Court Dismisses AFGE Lawsuit Against OSC Challenging Hatch Act Advisory Opinion on Impeachment
The U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland has dismissed a lawsuit filed against OSC by AFGE seeking to compel OSC to rescind a Hatch Act advisory opinion. The...
Special Counsel Henry J. Kerner Statement on Whistleblower Appreciation Day
Special Counsel Henry J. Kerner today released the following statement commemorating National Whistleblower Appreciation Day Special Counsel Henry J. Kerner today released the following statement: “Today on National Whistleblower Appreciation...