-
The First Act to Protect Whistleblowers in America
In 1912, the Lloyd-La Follette Act of 1912 was passed which guaranteed the right of federal employees to communicate with Congress. This is considered the first act to protect Whistleblowers. It ensured that information given to either the House or Congress, would not be interfered with or denied. -
Freedom of Information Act of 1966
The Freedom of Information Act of 1966 gave whistleblowers the ability to further pursue any information by giving them the right to request access to records from any federal agency. There are a few exceptions in which the public does not have the right to access certain records. These exceptions are due to protecting personal privacy, national security, and law enforcement. -
The Second Act to Protect Whistleblowers
The Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 was the second Act adopted into law that gave protection to whistleblowers. This Act however, only gave protection to federal employees, meaning any employees in the private sector would not be protected by this Act. The Act was signed into law by Jimmy Carter and is considered to be a response to the Watergate Scandal. -
Ethics in Government Act of 1978
This Act was put into place as a result of the Watergate scandal and the Saturday Night Massacre. It provided three different protections for whistleblowers. One way it protected whistleblowers was by making it mandatory for public disclosure of financial and employment history of public officials and their family. Another way was preventing public officials from pursuing lobbying efforts for a set period of time after leaving office. Lastly, it created the OIC to investigate public officials. -
Whistleblower Protection Act of 1989
This Act gave the ability for federal employees to disclose any government wrongdoing without being subject to consequences related to their employment. This means that the whistleblower will not receive demotions, pay cuts, or being fired. -
No FEAR Act of 2002
This Act basically holds federal managers accountable for committing unlawful discrimination and violating whistleblower protection laws. It also makes federal employees aware of their rights under the Federal Antidiscrimination, Whistleblower Protection, and Retaliation Laws. -
Sarbanes–Oxley Act of 2002
This Act was established to prevent businesses from committing fraud. It also banned companies from giving company loans to executives and gave job protection to whistleblowers.
