Government Accountability Project

"Success" for whistleblowers hinges on what happens post-disclosure.

Now, Congress is considering improving protections for contractor employees who report misconduct—this could lead to stronger safeguards and more impactful reform.

Hear from our Legal Director Tom Devine, now featured on Federal News Network, as he outlines what is so powerful about this new legislation and how we can ensure whistleblower voices actually make a difference. 📣

Listen in:

Federal News Network: Encouraging people to speak up is one challenge, protecting them afterward is another - Government Accountability Project Federal News Network: Encouraging people to speak up is one challenge, protecting them afterward is another This podcast features Government Accountability Project's Legal Director, Tom Devine, and was originally published here. Whether whistleblower programs succeed often depends on what happens af...

🏆 Last night, four Government Accountability Project whistleblowers were granted Pillar Awards for their courageous truth-telling: Patsy Widakuswara, Kathryn Neeper, Rick Ward, and Scott Smith.

These whistleblowers were recognized for their work as "notable civil and human rights champions," marking the culmination of the 2026 Whistleblower Summit on .

Patsy Widakuswara and Kathryn Neeper were named plaintiffs in the lawsuit against USAGM acting-CEO Kari Lake to save independent broadcast service Voice of America (VOA) from shuttering. As both were unable to attend the ceremony, their attorney, Of Counsel David Z. Seide, accepted the award on their behalf: "Voice of America is coming back. It's coming back because of Patsy and Kate."

Former military safety chief Rick Ward blew the whistle on military branches' sloppy handling of explosives and persistent safety issues at Crane Army Ammunition Activity, for which he was severely retaliated against.

Scott Smith is an independent scientist whose testing revealed dangerous levels of dioxins in East Palestine, OH after the 2023 train derailment, rebutting EPA’s claims that residents were safe to continue living in the aftermath.

"We're proud these brave whistleblowers who have spoken out against wrongdoing are being honored,” stated Louis Clark, Government Accountability Project CEO. "It is a privilege to represent and be associated with these incredible truth-tellers.”

From shutting down unsafe nuclear plants to pulling dangerous pharmaceuticals off the shelves, whistleblowers help make our world a much safer place to be.

This , we’re proud to uplift the countless ways these employees of conscience hold our corporations and government accountable.

Help us represent whistleblowers in court by donating today: https://crm.whistleblower.org/civicrm/contribute/transact?reset=1&id=20 🖤

Pictured: Panels from the 2026 Whistleblower Summit

We're proud to uplift the Make It Safe Coalition—a nonpartisan network of 75+ orgs utilizing advocacy, education and community to amplify whistleblower voices. 📢

Explore their initiatives to protect AI whistleblowers, bolster Whistleblower Protection Act rights, and more:

Make It Safe Coalition The Make It Safe Coalition is a nonpartisan group of non-profits, NGOs, and advocacy organizations fighting for stronger whistleblower protections and legislation through education & advocacy.

🗞️ We just sent a letter urging the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform to reject the misleading “Restoring Integrity & Efficiency to Inspector General Oversight Act,” alongside Project On Government Oversight, Protect Democracy, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), and Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility.

This bill would abolish the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency (CIGIE), dismantling the independent oversight necessary to uncover government waste, fraud and abuse.

Learn more:

Oversight committee should reject legislation abolishing CIGIE - CREW | Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington The House Oversight Committee should not allow CIGIE to be abolished or transfer its role to the Office of Management and Budget.

🎉 In a major win for govt. accountability, the House of Representatives voted unanimously last night to pass a bill we've long championed: the Expanding Whistleblower Protections for Contractors Act, introduced by reps Robert Garcia & Congressman James Comer.

For 5+ years, we and the Make It Safe Coalition have championed this bill to remedy dated govt. contractor rights.

Depending on the year, 2 to 3 times as many contractors as federal employees spend taxpayer money, with much of $4 trillion in post-pandemic spending going to contractors. This bill will help ensure govt. contractors are able to act with integrity and exercise whistleblowing rights without fear of retaliation.

"However, the House and Senate must still reach consensus on the reform's scope," stated our Legal Director Tom Devine. "Once that occurs, government contractor whistleblowers will have America's strongest anti-retaliation rights."

Learn more: https://whistleblower.org/press/house-passes-strong-whistleblower-protections-for-government-contractors/

📰 As the Washington Post reports, our whistleblower clients exposed how Kennedy Center renovations were rushed at the expense of the taxpayer. Federal contracting laws were ignored to prepare the center for events, including Trump's public acceptance of the FIFA “peace prize."

Learn more: https://whistleblower.org/press/whistleblowers-disclose-waste-in-kennedy-center-renovations/

Rusty columns, torn-up tile: What whistleblowers say about the Kennedy Center A Senate Democrat’s report accuses Kennedy Center leaders of rushing renovation work, allegedly saying, “We’ll deal with the lawsuits later.”

🚨 Our whistleblower clients have exposed flagrant violation of federal contractor laws, waste of taxpayer dollars, and financial mismanagement regarding Trump’s Kennedy Center renovations.

Management allegedly told staff to "do whatever it takes," insisting that "we'll deal with the lawsuits later."

Renovations were rushed in preparation of events including the FIFA World Cup draw, leading to structural deficiencies.

"[Our] whistleblowers have provided Congress with credible, detailed allegations that taxpayer dollars were wasted on cosmetic projects, contracting safeguards were bypassed, and federal funds intended to preserve a national cultural institution were mismanaged," said David Z. Seide, Of Counsel at Government Accountability Project.

Read more:

Whistleblowers Disclose Waste and Irregularities in Kennedy Center Renovations to Congress and Federal Watchdog - Government Accountability Project July 13, 2026 Whistleblowers Disclose Waste and Irregularities in Kennedy Center Renovations to Congress and Federal Watchdog WASHINGTON—On July 9, in response to Government Accountability Project’s bipartisan submission to Congress of an anonymous whistleblower disclosure involving possible fin...

No community is immune from toxic disasters that have plagued small American towns in the background of our news cycle.

However, our Senior Environmental Officer, Lesley Pacey, spoke on how communities can resist environmental injustice.

Learn more now⬇️

Meet America’s Real-Life ‘Toxic Avengers’ From the explosion of AI data centers to the increasing number of t...