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Where To Report Waste
Fraud, Abuse, Or Retaliation
Where To Report Waste Fraud, Abuse, Or Retaliation

Where to Report Fraud, Waste, Abuse, or Retaliation

Whistleblowers perform an important service to the public and the government when they report evidence of waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement. Federal laws protect whistleblowers from retaliation for reporting wrongdoing.

By following the prompts below, you will be directed to the appropriate agency or entity to report wrongdoing or to file a retaliation complaint.

Where to Report Retaliation

If you believe you have been retaliated against because you disclosed wrongdoing, the options available to you depend on your specific place of employment and the type of alleged retaliation, such as a personnel action taken against you.

By following the prompts below, you will be directed to the appropriate agency or entity to report wrongdoing or to file a retaliation complaint.


Do you have reason to believe that you were retaliated against because of a protected disclosure?


  1. A disclosure may be protected if:
    • The disclosure is based on a reasonable belief that wrongdoing has occurred.
    • The disclosure is made to a person or entity that is authorized to receive it.
      • Ex: Cooperating with an OIG investigation
  2. A disclosure of classified information may not be protected unless the disclosure is made in accordance with the law.
    • When in doubt, reach out to OIG. Inspectors General are generally authorized to hear classified disclosures.
  3. A personnel action was taken against you or threatened, such as a disciplinary action, unfavorable performance review, significant change in duties, or transfer.
  4. Your protected disclosure was a contributing or motivating factor for the personnel action.

I am a Federal executive branch civilian employee (and I do not work for the Federal Bureau of Investigation or the Intelligence Community)

Retaliation involving most personnel actions, such as termination, demotion, suspension, or reassignment: You may have the option of submitting a retaliation complaint with the U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC). OSC is an independent federal investigative and prosecutorial agency. OSC protects federal employees and applicants from prohibited personnel practices, including whistleblower retaliation. Some OIGs may also accept and investigate agency employee whistleblower retaliation but it varies across OIGs.

Retaliation involving a security clearance or access to classified information: OSC has primary jurisdiction over retaliation complaints by Federal executive branch civilian employees. However, OSC does not have jurisdiction in cases involving an alleged retaliatory revocation or suspension of a security clearance or access to classified information. If you believe you have been subjected to a retaliatory security clearance action, you may contact the OIG for your agency.


I am an Intelligence Community employee

You may have the option of submitting a retaliation complaint with the Office of the Inspector General that has oversight over your employing agency, including the:

*Please note, for employees at DHS, DoD, Energy, Justice, State, and Treasury that are not working on an intelligence community matter, the U.S. Office of Special Counsel may have jurisdiction over your retaliation complaint, unless your complaint involves your security clearance or access to classified information.

For more information on the whistleblower protections available to employees in the Intelligence Community, visit the ICIG’s web site.


I am a contractor, subcontractor, grantee, subgrantee, or personal services contractor for the federal government.

Employees of federal contractors, subcontractors, grantees, subgrantees, and personal services contractors can use the list of OIGs to determine where to file a complaint of whistleblower retaliation. 


I am an employee of a State, local or tribal government

You may have the option of submitting a retaliation complaint with the Department of Labor’s (DOL) Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) Whistleblower Program. For more information on the whistleblower laws enforced by OSHA’s whistleblower program, and which of these apply specifically to state and local government employees, visit the OSHA Whistleblower Program’s web site.

OSHA's Whistleblower Protection Program enforces the whistleblower provisions of more than twenty whistleblower statutes protecting employees who report violations of various workplace safety and health, airline, commercial motor carrier, consumer product, environmental, financial reform, food safety, health insurance reform, motor vehicle safety, nuclear, pipeline, public transportation agency, railroad, maritime, and securities laws. Rights afforded by these whistleblower protection laws include, but are not limited to, worker participation in safety and health activities, reporting a work-related injury, illness or fatality, or reporting a violation of the statutes herein.

Please note, if you are a state, local or tribal government employee whose employer receives federal contracts or grants, and believe you have been retaliated against for blowing the whistle on a federal contract or grant, you may have the option of submitting a retaliation complaint with the OIG for the contract or grant-making agency. Click here for more information on how to file a retaliation complaint with an OIG as an employee of a federal contractor or grantee.

Additionally, you may have the right to submit a retaliation complaint with a state or local government Inspector General. The Association of Inspectors General provides a directory of State and Local Inspector General Agencies.

OSHA’s Whistleblower Program

The Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s Whistleblower Program protects employees who report violations of various workplace safety and health, airline, commercial motor carrier, consumer product, environmental, financial reform, food safety, health insurance reform, motor vehicle safety, nuclear, pipeline, public transportation agency, railroad, maritime, and securities laws.

SEC Office of the Whistleblower

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Office of the Whistleblower accepts disclosures concerning possible violations of securities law by companies. The SEC is authorized by Congress to provide monetary awards to eligible individuals who come forward with high-quality original information that leads to a Commission enforcement action in which over $1,000,000 in sanctions is ordered.

CFTC Whistleblower Program

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Whistleblower Program provides monetary incentives to individuals who report possible violations of the Commodity Exchange Act that lead to a successful enforcement action, as well as privacy, confidentiality, and anti-retaliation protections for whistleblowers.

IRS Whistleblower Office

The Internal Revenue Service’s Whistleblower Office accepts reports of persons who fail to pay taxes that they owe and protects tax whistleblower against retaliation.  


I am an employee of the Federal Bureau of Investigation

If you are an employee of the FBI, you may submit a retaliation complaint to the Department of Justice (DOJ) OIG Hotline, or to the DOJ Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR). The DOJ OIG or the OPR will review reprisal complaints made by FBI employees and conduct investigations of such complaints.

For allegations involving an alleged retaliatory revocation or suspension of a security clearance or access to classified information, you may submit a complaint to the DOJ OIG hotline.


I am a member of the uniformed armed services

If you are a member of the uniformed Military Services, you may have the option of submitting a retaliation complaint with Department of Defense OIG or the IG for your service component. The Department of Defense OIG has prepared a “Guide to filing a military reprisal complaint.”

If you are a uniformed Coast Guard member, you may have the option of filing a retaliation complaint with the Department of Homeland Security OIG. For more information for members of the Coast Guard, visit the Department of Homeland Security OIG’s whistleblower protection web page.


I am a member of the Commissioned Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service

If you are a member of the Commissioned Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service, you may submit a retaliation complaint to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. Additional information regarding reprisal complaints for PHS Commissioned Corps Officers can be found here.

I am a member of the NOAA Commissioned Corps

If you are a member of the NOAA Commissioned Corps, you may submit a retaliation complaint to the U.S. Department of Commerce Office of Inspector General.

I am a Judicial Branch employee

Unlike for the executive branch, judicial branch employees do not have federal whistleblower protections. However, judicial branch employees may submit complaints regarding federal judicial conduct through the U.S. Courts. Employees may also disclose wrongdoing to Congress, such as to the Judiciary Committees.

I am a Legislative Branch employee

Legislative Branch employees who work for the House of Representatives or Senate can make disclosures concerning alleged misconduct to several offices that may investigate the disclosure. However, staff are not explicitly protected by federal law from retaliation for doing so outside of disclosures under the Congressional Accountability Act.

OFFICES THAT ACCEPT AND/OR INVESTIGATE CONGRESSIONAL WHISTLEBLOWER DISCLOSURES

  • The House Ethics Committee accepts and may investigate and adjudicate alleged violations of House rules and related statutes by House Members, officers, or employees. Anyone can report misconduct to the Committee and individuals may seek a confidential consultation before reporting an allegation for investigation.
  • The Office of Congressional Ethics receives and reviews allegations of misconduct concerning House Members, officers, or employees. Where the Office’s Board finds an allegation to be meritorious, it will refer the matter to the House Ethics Committee. The Office conducts a formal review of misconduct allegations it receives, and if the Board finds that misconduct occurred, the reports and findings of the Office will eventually become public, regardless of the Ethics Committee’s decision.
  • The House Office of the Inspector General receives and investigates allegations related to fraud, waste, or mismanagement within the administrative functions of the House.
  • The Senate Select Committee on Ethics accepts, investigates, and conducts adjudicatory reviews of improper conduct or allegations that any Senator, or officer, or employee of the Senate has violated a law, the Senate Code of Official Conduct, or any rule or regulation of the Senate relating to the conduct of any individual in the performance of their duty.
  • GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE (GPO) Employees of the Government Publishing Office are covered under the Whistleblower Protection Act (5 U.S.C. §2302(a)(2)(C)). Disclosures of alleged misconduct may be made to the GPO Office of Inspector General (OIG) or other audiences under the Act. For allegations of whistleblower retaliation, the OIG refers complainants to the Office of Special Counsel, the Merit Systems Protection Board, or GPO’s Equal Opportunity Office, per the OIG’s website
  • UNITED STATES CAPITOL POLICE (USCP) United States Capitol Police employees may make disclosures of alleged misconduct through several channels, in addition to OCWR. The Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) receives and investigates internal and external allegations of misconduct by USCP employees. Its internal policies prohibit retaliation against employees who make disclosures. The Office of Inspector General (OIG) conducts oversight of USCP programs and operations. Its authorizing statute requires that the IG maintain employee whistleblower confidentiality in most circumstances and prohibits retaliation against good faith disclosures. The OIG may refer some disclosures to the OPR for investigation. Both offices offer confidential consultation and accept anonymous disclosures. Unionized employees may also make protected disclosures and file grievances through their respective union.

See this fact sheet from the House Office of the Whistleblower Ombuds for more information. (Note that the Office cannot accept disclosures from whistleblowers).

I am an employee who holds a security clearance

Ex: A retaliatory action was taken that impacted your security clearance: If you are a federal employee, uniformed service member, contractor, subcontractor, grantee, subgrantee, or personal services contractor alleging that your eligibility for access to classified information was impacted by your protected disclosure, then you may contact the OIG for your agency. 

A retaliatory action was taken that did not impact your security clearance:

If the retaliatory action did not impact your security clearance and you are a federal employee, then you may file a complaint with the U.S. Office of Special Counsel. If you are a member of the intelligence community, uniformed service member, contractor, subcontractor, grantee, subgrantee, or personal services contractor, then you may contact the OIG for your agency. 


Do you have reason to believe that at least one of the following has occurred?

Gross mismanagement or gross waste of funds
    Ex.: Did someone irresponsibly use federal money for something they shouldn’t have?
Abuse of authority
    Ex.: Did someone use their federal authority to garner favors or for personal gain?
Substantial and specific danger to public health or safety
    Ex.: Did workers lack protective gear, which could pose a safety risk?
Violation of a law, rule, or regulation
    Ex.: Did someone disregard regulations related to the competition of a federal contract?

 

Disclose wrongdoing about a federal government agency, program, contract, or grant

You may disclose allegations of waste, fraud, abuse, or mismanagement to the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) with jurisdiction over the federal agency, program, contract, or grant about which you are concerned, or to the U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC).

Please select from the list of OIGs below to see a description of their jurisdiction and a link to the OIG’s hotline. Most executive branch employees can also disclose wrongdoing to OSC’s Disclosure Unit. Certain laws also protect whistleblowing disclosures made to other audiences such as Congress or the public.


Where to Report Other Forms of Wrongdoing

EEOC: Workplace harassment, employment discrimination

HUD: Housing discrimination

GAO FraudNet: The Government Accountability Office FraudNet hotline supports accountability across the federal government. FraudNet will refer allegations to federal, state, or local agencies or departments, as appropriate.


Where to Report Other Forms of Wrongdoing

EEOC: Workplace harassment, employment discrimination

HUD: Housing discrimination

GAO FraudNet: The Government Accountability Office FraudNet hotline supports accountability across the federal government. FraudNet will refer allegations to federal, state, or local agencies or departments, as appropriate.