In 1989, Congress passed the Whistleblower Protection Act (WPA). Thanks to this piece of legislation, employees within federal government sectors of the United States can disclose information regarding illegal or dishonest behavior occurring inside government organizations without fear of retaliation from employers.

Federal agencies cannot fire, sue or threaten to retaliate against whistleblowers. If a staff member believes an employer violated a law or other compliance rule, the WPA protects the employee who voluntarily discloses the fraudulent activities; this includes risking public safety and health, wasting funds, abusing authority, or committing any wrongdoing or mismanagement.

The U.S. Office of Special Counsel investigates complaints against federal whistleblowers and any retaliation against them. In spite of the WPA, retaliation continued to become more common during the last two decades. Fortunately, lawmakers recognized weaknesses within the Act and enhanced its ability to protect employees.

Senator Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii) introduced the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act (WPEA) in 2009. In 2012, Congress passed the WPEA into law.

In the coming years, whistleblower laws will undergo more changes to protect the rights of federal employees. Currently, the WPEA has improved the rights of whistleblowers, made the due process easier for them, and provided more resources and solutions for fighting federal retaliation. In addition, a paradigm shift has begun toward normal access to court.

Whistleblowers Against Fraud (WAF), founded by Joseph Piacentile, is dedicated to supporting individuals who have information about major fraud perpetrated against the U.S. government or its citizens. WAF partners with clients to develop the strongest case possible, recommend the right attorney for their case, and guide them through each phase of their case. With more than 21 years of experience developing whistleblower actions, WAF has successfully recovered billions of dollars on behalf of the U.S. federal government and numerous states. Partnering with WAF can help maximize any whistleblower reward one ultimately receives.