National Whistleblower Center Urges Federal Agencies to Implement Educational Whistleblower Programming

WASHINGTON, D.C. | April 21, 2021 — Today, the National Whistleblower Center (NWC) wrote to federal executive offices and agencies urging them to implement educational programming around National Whistleblower Day, celebrated each year on July 30^th – the anniversary of Congress passing America’s first whistleblower law.

In recent years, the Department of Homeland Security, the Director of National Intelligence, the Office of the Special Counsel, and the Council of Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency have all hosted or participated in the commemoration of National Whistleblower Appreciation Day.

NWC Interim Executive Director, Mary Jane Wilmoth said: “National Whistleblower Day has seen support from some federal agencies in the past few years. However, we would like to see more widespread participation from the federal government in acknowledging the importance of whistleblowers.” In its letters to the federal agencies, NWC offered its support in developing and providing educational resources and digital promotion of events.

NWC also wrote to President Biden requesting the issuance of an Executive Order that would designate July 30^th as “National Whistleblower Day,” and require each executive office and agency to recognize National Whistleblower Day by educating employees about their legal right to “blow the whistle” and celebrating the contributions of whistleblowers. The letter notes: “Issuing an Executive Order that acknowledges the importance of whistleblowing could change the culture of retaliation against whistleblowers that persists today.”

In addition to its federal advocacy work, NWC will host its annual National Whistleblower Day celebration on July 30^th. National Whistleblower Day 2021 will be an all-day virtual event featuring a range of speeches from policymakers, whistleblowers and their advocates, as well as a series of panels on pressing whistleblower issues. Learn more about National Whistleblower Day 2021 at https://www.nationalwhistleblowerday.org/.