Flawed VA Whistleblower Investigations

When an employee makes a Whistleblower claim to the Office of Special Counsel (OSC), OSC can inform the Inspector General of the Agency that a claim has been made and order the Inspector General to conduct an investigation into the claim.

VA Whistleblower Complaints

The Agency Inspector General is then required to investigate each aspect of the whistleblower's claims and determine whether or not those claims can be supported by evidence. In 2016, OSC uncovered numerous flaws with investigations conducted by the Inspector General at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

A comprehensive overview of the specific issues with VA whistleblower investigations can be found HERE.

OSC determined that while investigations were being conducted, some investigations did not fully respond to whistleblowers' concerns and allegations. It seemed that while investigations addressed the surface issues, some investigations failed to take a step further and determine whether there was underlying cause for concern.

Whistleblower Retaliation

As a result of the problems, the VA has vowed to work more closely with OSC during its investigations to ensure that investigations are completed properly and that the issues raised by whistleblowers are fully addressed.

The process of blowing the whistle and dealing with the subsequent investigation can be complicated, and many federal employees fear that they will face retaliation should they blow the whistle.

If you are considering blowing the whistle, or have already done so and are now facing retaliation, the federal employee attorneys at Melville Johnson, P.C. may be able to help. Call or message us today using the form below to discuss your situation and learn how we can assist you.