Whistleblower Attorney Explains History and Importance of National Whistleblower Day

For the tenth consecutive year, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed a resolution designating July 30 as National Whistleblower Appreciation Day. The day honors the United States’ first whistleblower law and celebrates whistleblowing by encouraging federal agencies to implement programming highlighting the contributions of whistleblowers and informing their employees of their whistleblower rights.

In two recent articles, Stephen M. Kohn, founding partner of Kohn, Kohn & Colapinto, details the history of the Revolutionary War era law honored by National Whistleblower Day and explains the importance of federal agencies celebrating the day.

In “Whistleblowing is fundamentally American, since 1778” published by The Hill, Kohn recounts the story of how, in 1778, the Continental Congress responded to a whistleblower retaliation case by passing a law stating that it is the duty of all inhabitants of the United States “to give the earliest information to Congress or other proper authority of any misconduct, frauds or misdemeanors committed by any officers or persons in the service of these states, which may come to their knowledge.”

The story of this law, and the whistleblowers that inspired it, was uncovered by Kohn back in 2011. In his article he details the whistleblowers’ allegations, the retaliation they faced, and the actions taken by the Continental Congress.

Moving up to today, in a piece for Federal News Network entitled “Respect the Founders’ wishes: Honor National Whistleblower Day,” Kohn connects the history of National Whistleblower Day to the importance of the federal government celebrating whistleblowers with the day.

“While the efforts to change the negative culture and attitudes about whistleblowing continue, the significance of this 1778 resolution – done at the height of the Revolution, when the whistleblowers risked their lives, properties and sacred honors – cannot be lost,” Kohn writes. “We now have proof that whistleblowers have made invaluable contributions. They have saved lives, recovered billions of fraudulent dollars, protected the environment, and put an end to major global corruption schemes. This is just the beginning.”

Kohn claims that the yearly National Whistleblower Day resolutions and the programming of federal agencies “are just scratching the surface.” He points to a whistleblower-led campaign calling for the permanent establishment of National Whistleblower Day. 

“In order to make significant change, the President of the United States must permanently implement the resolution of the Senate and require every federal agency to honor whistleblower day annually. Otherwise, whistleblowers throughout the federal government will continue to be misunderstood, slammed and left jobless. Five whistleblowers have stepped forward this year to lead this charge, calling on President Biden to solidify National Whistleblower Day once and for all.”

“Whistleblowing is fundamentally American, since 1778”

“Respect the Founders’ wishes: Honor National Whistleblower Day”