The Department of Defense Office of Inspector General (OIG) is re-opening the case of a Missouri National Guard contract videographer who alleged he was fired after disclosing a problem with a contract. The OIG originally dismissed his whistleblower complaint for not reporting a violation of a law, rule or regulation. However, the law also protects other types of disclosures related to government contracts. Sens. Chuck Grassley and Claire McCaskill cited the case to the OIG and expressed concern about the inspector general’s application of whistleblower protections for contractors.
Acting Inspector General Glenn A. Fine said the OIG erred in its review of the case and should have conducted an investigation. “As a result, the OIG will open this case, and will also open a related case filed by a co-worker, in order to proceed with full investigations,” he wrote.
The OIG also is opening a broader inquiry into “evaluating disclosures by contractor employee whistleblowers and personnel actions alleged to have been taken against them in reprisal.”
Grassley and McCaskill made the following statement on the OIG’s action.
“It’s rare for an Office of Inspector General to acknowledge mishandling a case, and Acting Inspector General Glenn Fine deserves credit for doing his job right. Government contractors can be mistreated just like full-time employees can be mistreated. Like regular employees, they deserve fair treatment free from reprisal for whistleblowing, as the law provides.”
The correspondence between Grassley and McCaskill and the OIG is available here and here.
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