The U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) is an independent federal investigative and prosecutorial agency. Our basic authorities come from four federal statutes: the Civil Service Reform Act, the Whistleblower Protection Act, the Hatch Act, and the Uniformed Services Employment & Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA). read more



"Whenever misdeeds take place in a Federal agency, there are employees who know that it has occurred, and who are outraged by it. What is needed is a means to assure them that they will not suffer if they help uncover and correct administrative abuses … These conscientious civil servants deserve statutory protection …"

- From the 1978 Senate report on the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978, which created the Office of Special Counsel

Divisions

Prohibited Personnel Practices (PPP)

Protecting Federal Government Employees and Applicants from Prohibited Personnel Practices, including Reprisal for Whistleblowing

Recent Resolutions and Determinations


Whistleblower Disclosures (Disclosures)

Providing a Safe Channel for Government Employees to Disclose Wrongdoing




Political Activity (Hatch Act)

Enforcing Restrictions on the Political Activity of Federal Government Employees and Employees of Certain State and Local Government Agencies



USERRA

Protecting the Employment and Reemployment Rights of Veterans, Guardsmen, and Reservists


IMPORTANT NOTICE: OSC now has an expanded role in handling certain USERRA complaints involving federal agencies. For further information, please see USERRA Demonstration Project.



Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)

Offers mediation and other alternatives to investigation and prosecution to complainants and agencies in selected Prohibited Personnel Practice and USERRA cases