Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility

Did you know whistleblowers are vital to a functioning democracy?

The Whistleblower Protection Act or WPA, first passed by Congress in 1978, is a critical tool for our democracy.

Under the WPA, a federal employee is protected if they expose:

Any violation of a law, rule, or regulation

Gross mismanagement

Gross waste of funds

An abuse of authority or

A substantial and specific danger to public health or safety.

The WPA protects federal employees against retaliation for these exposures.

So, how are whistleblowers vital to a functioning democracy?

Whistleblowers compel accountability and transparency by shining the light on government malfeasance.

They also improve the functioning of laws and government programs by exposing failures of implementation and enforcement and a lack of scientific integrity.

Learn more about how we protect whistleblowers at peer.org.