GovernmentExecutive.com

The federal office charged with investigating whistleblower complaints by government employees is the target of a complaint expected to be filed today by its own staff.

The complaint, to be filed by unnamed career employees and three independent whistleblower protection groups, alleges that U.S. Special Counsel Scott Bloch has, among other things, retaliated against employees who complained about office policies and ultimately forced senior career staff to relocate from Washington to a new regional office in Detroit, according to a source close to the groups.

The employees contend Bloch has issued illegal gag orders to prevent them from talking to the media or members of Congress, and has discriminated against gay employees.

Bloch's tenure at the Office of Special Counsel has been rocky.

Appointed by President Bush last year from the Office of Faith-Based Programs at the White House, he immediately fueled controversy by removing documents from the office Web site dealing with discrimination based on sexual orientation, and initiated a review of his authority to address such complaints.

Bloch's office is responsible for reviewing whistleblower complaints about improper government actions and retaliation against government employees.

But as he is the subject of the complaint scheduled to be filed this morning, the document requests Bloch recuse himself and elevate the complaint to the President's Council on Integrity and Efficiency.

Bloch had not seen the complaint Wednesday night, but he previously has defended the reorganization that created the Detroit office, saying he is trying to "power-down" the Washington office and distribute personnel around the country. There are two regional OSC offices in Dallas and San Francisco.

In a letter last month to House Government Reform ranking member Henry Waxman, D-Calif., Bloch denied similar allegations of retaliation, saying, "There is no evidence of any wrongdoing or failure to follow all applicable laws and regulations."

COMMENTS

• Would this action also apply toward discrimination complaints? GovExec.com reader Posted April 27, 2005 8:57 AM
• Should anybody be surprised that the Whistleblowers office is little different than any other federal agency? For the most part, one must wonder if the Whistleblower office is as intent on preventing waste fruad and abuse as it is on preventing federal employees from disclosing waste fraud and abuse. If they were doing their job, there would be no lawyers who specialize in federal employee workers compensation. If they were doing their job, why do so many federal employees have to turn to their Congressional representatives when their rights are violated and why do some many federal employees constantly complain about the same problems, especially retaliation? Why aren't the problems corrected? You would think that we would hear of federal managers being brought to trial for the many abuses of authority that take place daily. If, the Whistleblower office was actually doing something about waste, fraud and abuse, why is their still so much waste, fraud and abuse? I suspect that many a soldier has died for lack of any action by the Whistleblower office. I wonder how they will cover this up? Robert M. Posted March 4, 2005 9:02 PM