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Court ruling could tie OSC's hands when it comes whistleblowers
The Office of Special Counsel is "deeply concerned" about the implications of a federal court ruling that stripped low-level Defense Department employees of their ability to appeal suspensions and demotions outside the agency. OSC, which filed an amicus brief earlier this month with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, is worried the ruling could have a chilling effect on whistleblowers.
Tags: oversight , workforce , MSPB , whistleblower , Federal Drive , Tom Temin , Emily Kopp , Jack Moore
Office of Special Counsel wants Hatch Act overhaul
The Office of the Special Counsel wants to see the law governing the political activity of federal employees updated. Carolyn Lerner, head of the OSC, told Federal News Radio the law is outdated and has led to unintended consequences. The act was created in 1939 when "typewriters were about the most advanced means of communication," Lerner said.
Tags: Carolyn Lerner , Hatch Act , whistleblowers , workforce , Jack Moore
Lawmakers unveil Hatch Act update
A group of lawmakers has proposed an update to the law governing federal employees' political activity that would exempt some state and local employees and allow for a range of penalties other than automatic suspension for minor violations.
Tags: Joseph Lieberman , Daniel Akaka , Elijah Cummings , Mike Lee , Hatch Act , Carolyn Lerner , MSPB , workforce , Congress , Jack Moore
GSA spending scandal puts agency whistleblowers in spotlight
Not all claims of agency wrongdoing wind up with the agency IG's office. Some employees turn to the Office of Special Counsel, the independent investigative agency that acts under the authority of the Whistleblower Protection Act. OSC's relatively-low profile has grown since Carolyn Lerner, the head of the office, joined the agency about nine months ago.
Tags: management , Catherine McMullen , Carolyn Lerner , In Depth , Francis Rose , Jack Moore
Report: Federal whistleblowers don't sense letup in agency retaliation
Federal employees increasingly perceive less agency wrongdoing but that doesn't necessarily mean the threat of retaliation for reporting such misconduct has similarly decreased, according to a new Merit System Protection Board report.
Tags: MSPB , Susan Tsui Grundmann , whistleblower , EPA , FDA , best practices , Jack Moore
OSC, HHS's Sebelius at odds over Hatch Act violation
The Office of Special Counsel found the HHS Secretary's remarks in February at a gala violated the law prohibiting federal employees from engaging in partisan actions. Kathleen Sebelius contends she didn't break the law.
Tags: Hatch Act , Kathleen Sebelius , HHS , Carolyn Lerner , Barack Obama , Darrell Issa
FAA chief says voting claim under federal review
The head of the Federal Aviation Administration says an independent federal agency is investigating allegations that FAA managers in Seattle urged employees to vote Democratic in the upcoming election.FAA acting Administrator Michael Huerta says no one from his agency or elsewhere in the Obama administration gave such directions about how to vote.
Tags: FAA , Hatch Act , Michael Huerta
Reasons unclear for drop in whistleblower disclosures
The Office of Special Counsel's annual report to Congress found the number of employees bringing cases of potential wrongdoing declined for the first time in five years.
Tags: management , Federal Drive , John Mahoney , whistleblower , Retaliation , Tully Rinckey , Ann OHanlon , Taeja Smith
OSC warns agencies of email monitoring restrictions
The Office of Special Counsel is reminding agencies not to target email monitoring of employees that could have a chilling effect on whistleblowers who report waste, fraud and abuse.
Tags: OMB , whistleblower , email monitoring , FDA , technology , Federal Drive
Senators frustrated by FAA nominee's lack of specifics about delayed safety provisions
Acting administrator Michael Huerta had few answers for members of the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee concerning the FAA's lack of progress on pilot training and safety regulations. Huerta said the final directive is expected to be out by October 2013. He also said the NextGen system is making progress and establishing important baselines.
Tags: management , FAA , Michael Huerta , Keith BieryGolick , Jared Serbu , Congress , NextGen , Air Transportation System , John Rockefeller , Frank Lautenberg , Senate Commerce , Science and Transportation Commi , whistleblower ,
