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Wednesday, June 18, 2025

Ranking Member Connolly Investigating Trump-Administration Silencing Potential VA Whistleblowers with Gag Orders - Congressman Gerry Connolly (.gov)

Today, Rep. Gerald E. Connolly, Ranking Member of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, sent a letter to Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Doug Collins requesting documents and information following troubling reporting that former VA staff tasked with terminating employees and reorganizing the agency workforce were forced to sign agreements pledging not to disclose information on employee communications, agreements likely to “extend beyond their termination.” The implementation of these nondisclosure agreements could prevent federal employees from disclosing violations of waste, fraud, and abuse to Congress.

“I write with concern regarding reports that employees with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) tasked by the Trump Administration with slashing its headcount by approximately 80,000 employees have been required to sign gag orders that may be unlawful. Federal whistleblowers save lives, save taxpayer money, and bravely speak truth to power in cases of wrongdoing, mismanagement, or other abuses of power by the government. To ensure that the Trump Administration is not unlawfully prohibiting or intimidating current or former employees from communicating any such abuses to Congress, I request documents and information related to these reports,” wrote Ranking Member Connolly.

In his letter, the Ranking Member cites concerns about potential efforts by the Trump Administration to undercut whistleblower protections. The bipartisan Whistleblower...



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