# Understanding the Whistleblower Protection Improvement Act of 2021

This bill strengthens protections for federal government employees who report wrongdoing. If you work for the federal government and discover illegal activity, waste of taxpayer money, or dangers to public safety, this law makes it safer for you to speak up without fear of losing your job or facing retaliation.

The bill creates several new safeguards. First, it protects your right to contact Congress directly with information about problems in your agency. Your boss can no longer punish you for reaching out to a senator, representative, or congressional committee with concerns. The law also prevents government officials from revealing your identity if you make a protected disclosure—keeping your whistleblowing confidential unless you give permission. Additionally, if an investigation is opened because of your whistleblower complaint, that investigation itself is now protected, meaning your employer can't use the investigation as an excuse to retaliate against you.

The bill also makes it faster and easier to get help if you're retaliated against. If the Merit Systems Protection Board (the agency that handles these cases) doesn't make a decision within 180 days, you can now take your case directly to federal court and request a jury trial. You also get attorney fees paid if you win your case. The law expands protections to more types of federal employees, including those in the Public Health Service and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and it specifically protects employees who report censorship or suppression of scientific research and technical information.

Whistleblower Protection Improvement Act of 2021

Maloney, Carolyn B.

Whistleblower Protection Improvement Act of 2021 This bill establishes, modifies, and expands certain whistleblower protections for federal employees, including with respect to petitions to Congress, whistleblower identity, and protected disclosures. For example, the bill prohibits personnel action against employees who exercise their right to petition or furnish information to Congress and specifically precludes the President, Members of Congress, members of the uniformed services, and other federal employees from interfering with this right. It also generally prohibits employees from disclosing the identity of whistleblowers to individuals outside of the government. Employees may request corrective action from the Merit Systems Protection Board with respect to such prohibited practices and may file an action in court if the board does not render a final decision within 180 days of a request. The bill also expands the list of recipients to whom an employee may make a protected disclosure to include a supervisor in the employee's direct chain of command. It also includes personnel actions involving furloughs of more than 14 days but less than 30 days, and furloughs of 13 days or less that are not due to funding lapses, as appealable adverse actions that are subject to certain procedural requirements.