ACLU Commends Obama on New Policy Directive Protecting National Security Whistleblowers

Directive Establishes Process for Reviewing Retaliation Complaints for Intelligence Community Employees Who Report Waste, Fraud and Abuse

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: (212) 549-2666; media@aclu.org

WASHINGTON — The American Civil Liberties Union commends President Barack Obama on issuing a Presidential Policy Directive Protecting Whistleblowers with Access to Classified Information. Coming a month after the House passed the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act, the directive protects national security whistleblowers that report waste, fraud, and abuse while prohibiting retaliation.

“This directive is a positive step forward in that it acknowledges there is a problem and begins to establish an internal review process for employees who suffer retaliation for reporting government waste, fraud and abuse within the intelligence community,” said Michael German, ACLU policy counsel. “An internal review of adverse personnel actions by inspectors general is an important and necessary improvement, which we appreciate, but more must be done.”

The current House bill is devoid of protections for employees of intelligence and national security agencies.

“Congress must act to strengthen the protections for national security whistleblowers and provide them due process when their rights are violated,” German said. “For our constitutional system of government to work Congress must be informed and ensure it has access to conscientious intelligence community employees and the critical information they possess.”