Whistleblower Law Blog

On July 14, 2012, the New York Times issued an article that uncovered a U.S. government secret spying program that targeted a group of whistleblowers working for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The government program that the story uncovered is illegal. It shows how high government officials used a spy program that intended to undermine federal employees’ rights to lawfully report significant health threats and concerns to Congress, law enforcement officials and the American people.

Stephen M. Kohn, the Executive Director of the National Whistleblower Center and the head attorney for the FDA whistleblowers stressed that these employees do not give up their First or Fourth Amendment rights while holding government positions. Kohn stated that it is in fact more important for government workers to make note of wrongdoing in order to expose crimes, misconduct, corruption and wasted taxpayer dollars. 

In reference to the news article, Stephen M. Kohn also stated: “We hope that the revelations in today's New York Times will mark a turning point in the battle to stop the retaliatory surveillance of whistleblowers who risk their careers to report misconduct.”

Mr. Kohn hopes that the individuals responsible for attempting to prevent FDA agents from uncovering serious health and safety violations will be punished.

Find the New York Times article that started it all here: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/15/us/fda-surveillance-of-scientists-spread-to-outside-critics.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all