Whistleblower Protection for Federal Bureau of Investigation Employees

요약

The Department of Justice ("Department") proposes to update its regulations on the protection of whistleblowers in the Federal Bureau of Investigation ("FBI"). This update reflects changes resulting from an assessment conducted by the Department in response to Presidential Policy Directive-19 of October 10, 2012, "Protecting Whistleblowers with Access to Classified Information" ("PPD-19"), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act of 2016 ("FBI WPEA of 2016"). The proposed changes include updating the description of protected whistleblower disclosures and covered personnel actions to conform to the FBI WPEA of 2016; providing for more equal access to witnesses; and specifying that compensatory damages may be awarded as appropriate. The proposed changes also include new provisions to formalize practices that have been implemented informally, including providing for the use of acknowledgement and show-cause orders, providing access to alternative dispute resolution through the Department's FBI Whistleblower Mediation Program, clarifying the authority to adjudicate allegations of a breach of a settlement agreement, and reporting information about