A whistleblower is an individual who believes his or her organization is engaged in or willfully permits unethical or unlawful activities and reports that information. The Whistleblower Protection Act (WPA) provides protection rights to Federal employees. Under the WPA, Federal employees who are whistleblowers may seek protection by the Office of Special Counsel and the Merit Systems Protection Board against retaliation resulting from their disclosures of fraud, waste, or abuse to SIGTARP. The Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act of 1994 provides similar protection for employees of Federal contractors who report fraud, waste, or abuse to SIGTARP.

SIGTARP’s Whistleblower Protection Ombudsman provides education to increase awareness of prohibitions against whistleblower retaliation and the rights and remedies against retaliation for making protected disclosures.

The Ombudsman is prohibited from acting as a complainant's legal representative, agent, or advocate. For additional information concerning whistleblower rights and remedies, please contact the SIGTARP Whistleblower Ombudsman Program at 202-927-1019 or SIGTARP-GC@treasury.gov.