The Office of Special Counsel, an agency that protects whistleblowers in the federal government, on Wednesday issued a reminder that any non-disclosure agreements or policies on employee communications must include language notifying federal employees of their whistleblower rights.
"Under the anti-gag provision, agencies cannot impose nondisclosure agreements and policies that fail to include required language that informs employees that their statutory right to blow the whistle supersedes the terms and conditions of the nondisclosure agreement or policy," the OSC press release said.
The OSC reminder followed several reports that employees at agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency were told not to issue press releases or use official social media accounts. There is also speculation that President Donald Trump may require some administration employees to sign non-disclosure agreements, as he has required his employees to do so in the past.
The press release sent out by the Office of Special Counsel on Wednesday noted that the anti-gag order provision in the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act (WPEA) requires that agencies must notify employees about their whistleblower rights in any nondisclosure agreement or general policy regarding communication.
The Office of Special Counsel has jurisdiction over most of the federal government agencies, but not the FBI or intelligence community.
The Full Story (January 25, 2017)
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