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The Federal Aviation Administration fired James Hopkins shortly after he approached his supervisors with information pertaining to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Hopkins, who has a background in intelligence analysis, began working as an aviation operations specialist at the FAA last May. After reading a news report that some of the Sept. 11 hijackers had received flight training in the United States, Hopkins searched FAA's International Training Program database and came across the name of one of the suspected terrorists.

Hopkins took the information to his supervisors, who denied him permission to go to FAA Security and told him that it wasn't his responsibility to investigate the case. After he went to FAA Security, his supervisor placed him on administrative leave. Hopkins then told the FBI, which was investigating the suspect in question, about the information he found on the FAA's database. The suspect was later cleared of any involvement in the Sept. 11 attacks.

Hopkins was fired shortly after his disclosure to the FBI. According to his supervisor, Hopkins failed to maintain a "calm and professional approach in the completion of duties, as well as evidence of sound judgment." Hopkins then filed a complaint with the Office of Special Counsel. OSC is responsible for enforcing the 1989 Whistleblower Protection Act.

OSC concluded that Hopkins was fired for disclosing his discovery to his supervisors and recommended that FAA give him his job back. The agency eventually agreed to place him back on administrative leave, but Hopkins was not allowed to not return to his job.

OSC filed a petition with the Merit Systems Protection Board, which agreed that the FAA had violated Hopkins' whistleblower rights. Hopkins was back at his job at FAA on Oct. 24, according to OSC spokeswoman Jane McFarland.

Office of Special Counsel case, Oct. 18, 2001.

Dodging a Bullet

New standard operating procedures have been established in the National Firearms Unit of the Immigration and Naturalization Service after allegations by whistleblowers against the agency's former director, Gary Runyon, were substantiated by a Justice Department investigation.

According to the investigation, Runyon asked employees to make repairs on an antique sewing machine while they were on the job and using government equipment. He also confiscated parts of guns in government storage for his personal collection, gave employees ammunition that had been seized by the INS for their own personal use, and forced employees to carry guns when they were off-duty, which violated the law. Runyon also hosted a "Fun Day" where he allowed non-INS employees to shoot machine guns and pistols at the agency's gun range.

Other charges against Runyon included buying more than $250,000 worth of unnecessary machines for the agency and accepting gifts from the Remington Arms Gun Company. He was accused of misusing government property as well, including vehicles, storage space and a FedEx account.

New standard operating procedures include heightened accounting requirements for ammunition. The INS also put an end to "Fun Day."

The Office of Special Counsel criticized a decision by Justice officials not to discipline Runyon before he retired, as well as the agency's failure to give its report to the Attorney General's office for use in possible criminal proceedings. OSC forwarded the investigation to Congress and President Bush.

Office of Special Counsel case, Oct. 15, 2001