Whistleblowers

Whistleblowing is drawing increased attention as more workers in government and the private sector come forward to decry what they contend are waste, fraud, abuse and illegal activities in the workplace. Civil libertarians have derided President Obama for his tough approach to high-profile national security leakers, such as former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden. But Obama has won praise for his efforts in areas relating to non-national security whistleblowing, including appointing an official who has strengthened the federal agency that represents government whistleblowers. Meanwhile, whistleblower advocates and national security experts are debating whether Snowden and other such leakers qualify as whistleblowers. Congress has passed several laws relating to whistleblowing over the last 25 years, but experts question how well some are working. Advocates expect whistleblowing to become easier because of technological advances and to gain even more widespread public acceptance.