WHISTLEBLOWER

     Congress passed the Whistleblower Protection Act of 1989 to protect federal whistleblowers who work for the government and report activities they believe constitutes a violation of federal laws or regulations. If a federal employee considers an action by another federal employee or officeholder is illegal or unethical, the Whistleblower Protection Act protects his or her identity. Some states have similar laws.

     In 2020, a federal employee filed a complaint claiming that President Trump did something wrong in a July call with the leaders of Ukraine. This person claimed the protection of his or her identity under the Whistleblower Protection Act. As of now, this person has not been publicly identified, but the complaint put things in play that led to others giving testimony before Congress about Trump's actions regarding Ukraine. 

  
     Another famous whistleblower is was Edward Snowden. He leaked highly classified files from the National Security Agency. He leaked information from the NSA that the United States was spying on us from our cell phones to the internet. However, Snowden did not seek protection under the Whistleblower Protection Act. 

     Sometimes the information from whistleblowers makes people afraid; other times it makes people angry. However, whistleblowers may provide information to the public that we can't get any other way.