Policy Statement on Whistleblowing
2007
The U.S. Department of
Transportation is committed to protecting Federal employees, former Federal
employees, and job applicants from interference when
making
protected disclosures and from retaliation for having made protected
disclosures. Congress enacted the
Whistleblower Protection Act of 1989 to strengthen protections
for
Federal employees who believe they are the target of unjustified personnel
actions in reprisal for making disclosures about a violation of law, rule, or
regulation, a gross waste of funds or mismanagement, an abuse of authority, or
a substantial and specific danger
to
public health or safety. More recently,
President Bush signed the Notification and Federal Employee Antidiscrimination
and Retaliation Act (No Fear) into law on
Neither I nor any member of the
Department’s leadership team will tolerate whistleblower reprisal. Legitimate disclosure of information by
employees is an invaluable resource for the oversight of government
operations. Therefore, it is
my
expectation that employees be able to confidently report these matters to the
Department’s Office of Inspector General, the U.S. Office of Special Counsel,
or
appropriate
management officials in the Department.
Anyone who interferes with or retaliates against any employee making a
protected disclosure will be subject to appropriate disciplinary action.
I am committed to maintaining the
Department’s role as an employer that
respects
the rights of Federal employees, former Federal employees, or job applicants
to
raise legitimate concerns without fear of reprisal. I ask everyone to join me in implementing and
communicating this important policy.
Mary E. Peters