Whistleblower Protection

Department of Defense Whistleblower Program

Inspectors General need sources.  Our investigators, auditors, evaluators and inspectors rely on whistleblowers to provide information as a source of allegations and as original and corroborating evidence. Federal employees within the Executive are required to report corruption.  When they do so through the Inspector General Act of 1978, the DoD IG can investigate alleged reprisal against those whistleblowers.  Whistleblowing is not a ‘nice to have’ function; it is essential to the national security and defense mission of the Federal government.

Our sources come to us personally; others are interviewees in our investigations, audits, evaluations and inspections.  They can be Qui Tam relators under the False Claims Act, reporting to the Congress under the Intelligence Community Whistleblower Protection Act, a participant in the Contractor Disclosure Program or a contact for the Defense Hotline. 

To report corruption:  SUBMIT A WHISTLEBLOWING OR REPRISAL COMPLAINT TO THE DOD HOTLINE

To assist potential  whistleblowers, the Inspector General has designated a Whistleblower Protection Ombudsman (WHPO) for the Department of Defense.  Staffed by the Directorate of Whistleblowing & Transparency, the WHPO is available to assist both civilian employees and military members, as well as members of the Defense intelligence community seeking protection under the Defense Intelligence Community Whistleblower Program (DICWP).

Protected whistleblowing is defined as disclosing information which the discloser reasonably believes evidences:

  1. A violation of law, rule, or regulation,
  2. Gross mismanagement,
  3. Gross waste of funds,
  4. An abuse of authority, or
  5. A substantial and specific danger to public health or safety.

Whistleblowers are protected by various government statutes and acts that prevent federal employees from taking any personnel action against an employee who has engaged in protected whistleblowing.

See the DoD IG resources and programs listed below for more details on whistleblowing:

  • Whistleblower Reprisal Investigations
    Conducts and oversees allegations of whistleblower reprisal made by DoD Military Service members, Nonappropriated Fund (NAF) employees, and Contractor Employees.
  • Contractor Disclosure Program
    Offers contractors a means of reporting certain violations of criminal law and violations of the civil False Claims Act discovered during self-policing activities.
  • FAQ
    Answers common questions regarding whistleblowing and reprisal investigations.
  • No FEAR Act Reporting
    Increases the accountability of federal agencies for violations of anti-discrimination and whistleblower protection laws, reporting summary statistical data of complaints filed against the agency.