What is the Whistleblower Protection Act of 1989?

The Whistleblower Protection Act of 1989 (“WPA”) is a federal law designed to protect federal employees from retaliation for disclosing fraud, waste or abuse by their employers. The WPA applies to all federal civilian employees, including members of the military, as well as state and local government workers in Florida. The WPA prohibits employers from engaging in retaliatory actions such as demotion, suspension, termination, or other forms of discrimination, when an employee discloses information or testifies about any violation of law, rule or regulation, waste, mismanagement, abuse of authority, or danger to public health and safety. This law allows for a federal employee to report fraud, waste, and abuse committed by federal agencies or by private entities which receive federal funds. The WPA also provides a legal remedy for any employee who has experienced retaliation. The WPA is enforced by the U.S. Office of Special Counsel, which is charged with investigating whistleblower allegations and filing complaints in federal court on behalf of the employee who experienced retaliation. Additionally, the WPA prohibits employers from retaliating against an employee for receiving a reward for reporting fraud or abuse, or assisting in a federal investigation. This includes an employee’s right to receive monetary rewards for reporting fraud or abuse of federal funds. The WPA is intended to encourage federal employees to speak up and report wrongdoing without fear of retaliation. This law provides important protections for employees in Florida and across the country, and is an important tool in the fight against government fraud, waste, and abuse.

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What is the Whistleblower Protection Act of 1989?

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