5 U.S.C. § 7, offers protection to government employees who report wrongdoings within their agencies. This law focuses on three key aspects: complaints, disclosure of identity, and reprisals. Federal employees are empowered to file complaints regarding violations of law, waste, fraud, abuse of authority, or dangers to public health and safety. Importantly, the law protects the whistleblower's identity from being revealed without their consent. This anonymity encourages employees to come forward without fear of retaliation. However, the law strictly prohibits any form of reprisal against whistleblowers, including demotion, termination, or other negative actions taken in response to their report. This protection ensures a safe space for government employees to expose wrongdoing within their workplaces.
5a U.S.C. § 7
(a) The Inspector General may receive and investigate complaints or information from an employee of the establishment concerning the possible existence of an activity constituting a violation of law, rules, or regulations, or mismanagement, gross waste of funds, abuse of authority or a substantial and specific danger to the public health and safety.
(b) The Inspector General shall not, after receipt of a complaint or information from an employee, disclose the identity of the employee without the consent of the employee, unless the Inspector General determines such disclosure is unavoidable during the course of the investigation.
(c) Any employee who has authority to take, direct others to take, recommend, or approve any personnel action, shall not, with respect to such authority, take or threaten to take any action against any employee as a reprisal for making a complaint or disclosing information to an Inspector General, unless the complaint was made or the information disclosed with the knowledge that it was false or with willful disregard for its truth or falsity.
(Pub. L. 95–452, § 7, Oct. 12, 1978, 92 Stat. 1105.)
