Watchdog Agency ‘in a Coma’ Faces Uncertain Future Under Trump

This article features Government Accountability Project Legal Director Tom Devine and was originally published here.

A lingering leadership vacuum has left the federal government’s whistleblower and public employee protection agency hobbled during a historically busy time, prompting government accountability groups to look to make it easier for federal workers to bring their complaints to the courts.

The US Office of Special Counsel in the 10 months since President Donald Trump fired its last permanent leader Hampton Dellinger has experienced a record number of complaints and seen flagging employee morale over whether the agency can remain an independent auditor and whistleblower protector, according to whistleblower advocates and two current agency officials who spoke on condition of anonymity.

“I view them as in a coma,” said Tom Devine, legal director for the Government Accountability Project, which represents federal complainants. “The whistleblower coalition I work with, we’ve pretty much written OSC off.”

Federal workers alleging wrongdoing against government officials are limited to the OSC and the Merit Systems Protection Board, which until recently lacked a quorum. The three-member board needs at least two members to decide appeals.

Devine said he’s now working with multiple congressional committees to loosen the requirements for bringing federal workforce cases to court. Such a change would mean...

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