Science & Tech Whistleblower
Whistleblowers have identified wasteful spending, improved federal programs, helped to ensure the integrity of government funded scientific projects, and saved lives.
If you have information to share regarding concerns about federally-funded science, research or technology-related programs, please contact us. Protected whistleblowing activity under most primary laws for the Executive branch, contractors, and grantees entails disclosing information that you reasonably believe evidences a violation of law, rule, or regulation; gross mismanagement; gross waste of funds; abuse of authority; or a substantial and specific danger to public health or safety.
Executive branch employees covered under the Whistleblower Protection Act can also make protected disclosures about censorship related to research, analysis, or technical information if they reasonably believe that censorship will cause any of the categories of misconduct above.
Oversight staff of the Committee on Science, Space & Technology, who have been trained on whistleblower laws and protections, can provide further information to you on what encompasses protected whistleblower activity prior to receiving any information from you. However, the Committee cannot act as your legal counsel.
Public employees have a constitutional right to speak with Congress on matters of public concern. In addition, various U.S. laws prohibit retaliation, or threat thereof, against whistleblowers and protect whistleblowers in providing information to Congress, including 5 U.S. Code § 2302 - Prohibited personnel practices and 5 U.S. Code § 7211 - Employees' right to petition Congress. If you wish to provide (unclassified) documentation to, or speak with, one of the Democratic Oversight Staff of the Committee on Science, Space & Technology regarding allegations of waste, fraud, abuse, or mismanagement, you may contact us via telephone at (202) 225-6375, e-mail us at ScienceWhistleblower@mail.house.gov, or fill out the form below. We respect your right to remain confidential, and we will use your contact information only to follow up with you regarding your submission. You may fill out the form anonymously. However, please be aware that anonymous disclosures may limit our ability to respond to the information you provide.
Other Considerations for Potential Whistleblowers
- When you contact the Committee, your personal information will remain confidential pursuant to the Code of Official Conduct for the House, clause 21 of Rule XXIII.
- Generally, the choice to remain confidential or go public with your information will remain up to you, and Committee staff will ask explicit permission before your information is shared externally. Exceptions to confidentiality requirements are outlined in the Code of Official Conduct for the House clause referenced above.
- You have the right to review, update, and correct information shared with the Committee.
- Any documentation received from whistleblowers and any notes prepared by staff will be saved in a secure folder on the staff network that is only accessible to investigations staff who work directly with whistleblowers.
- To better protect your communications, do not contact the Committee using work resources (like a work phone or email address) or while you are at work.
- The Committee cannot promise any particular deliverable that will result from information provided by a whistleblower. However, we can promise to carefully evaluate information shared by a whistleblower and to consider the most productive strategies for follow-through.
Please follow this link to review a document compiled by the House Office of the Whistleblower Ombuds providing tips to whistleblowers compiled by attorneys and experts.