The House on Thursday approved legislation aimed at increasing protections for federal workers who expose government corruption, over the objection of Republicans who said the bill really about protecting government employees who worked against President Donald Trump.
Democrats acknowledged that Trump was an impetus for the bill during floor debate this week. Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., who chairs the House Oversight and Reform Committee and introduced the Whistleblower Protection Improvement Act, said Trump’s team made "repeated and consistent efforts" to silence whistleblowers.
"In May, the Department of Defense IG found that Trump loyalists retaliated against Colonel Yevgeny Vindman, who bravely reported that President Trump had an unlawful phone call with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy," added Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Va., during floor debate. "Even in the wake of a damning impeachment trial, and in full view of the public, Mr. Trump felt emboldened to attack active duty servicemembers who had the courage and common sense to expose that extortion."
Republicans argued that there are several whistleblower protection laws already on the books, and that this week’s Democratic push was about protecting employees who worked to thwart Trump’s agenda.
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