About Whistleblower Protection
The Whistleblower Protection Act (WPA) provides statutory protections for federal employees who engage in “whistleblowing,” that is, making a disclosure evidencing illegal or improper government activities.
The protections of the WPA apply to most federal executive branch employees and become applicable when a “personnel action” is taken “because of” a “protected disclosure” made by a “covered
employee.”
When Congress first enacted the Whistleblower Protection Act (WPA) in 1989, it stated that the intent of the legislation was to:
"Strengthen and improve protection for the rights of Federal employees, to prevent reprisals, and to help eliminate wrongdoing within the Government by —
- mandating that employees should not suffer adverse consequences as a result of prohibited personnel practices; and
- establishing that while disciplining those who commit prohibited personnel practices may be used as a means by which to help accomplish that goal, the protection of individuals who are the subject of prohibited personnel practices remains the paramount consideration."
For more information about whistleblower protection, please view our Frequently Asked Questions.
Whistleblower Rights