Whistleblowers play a critical role in reporting fraud, waste, and abuse and protecting public health and safety. Current and former HHS employees, applicants for HHS employment, employees of HHS contractors, subcontractors, personal services contractors, grantees, and subgrantees who disclose information to OIG and other authorized recipients are protected from retaliation under the Whistleblower Protection Act of 1989, 41 U.S.C. § 4712 and Presidential Policy Directive 19 (PPD-19). These laws protect whistleblowers who report specific wrongdoing.

Additionally, members of the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps are protected from retaliation for making protected communications under the Military Whistleblower Protection Act, 10 U.S.C. § 1034, and cannot be restricted from communicating with OIG or a member of Congress.

What is whistleblower retaliation?

Whistleblower retaliation occurs when an employer (through a supervisor, administrator, or other person with authority) takes an adverse employment action against an employee for making a protected disclosure.

What is a protected disclosure?

To be protected, a disclosure must meet the following criteria:

1. The disclosure must be based on a reasonable belief that the alleged wrongdoing has occurred. As explained below, the definition of wrongdoing varies slightly depending upon your place of employment.
2. The disclosure must be made to a person or entity that is authorized to receive it. As explained below, there...

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