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Return to Article: Panel poised to curb OSC discretion in whistleblower probes

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  The proposed changes are significant. For example, bill S. 2057 allows for reimbursement of legal expenses as long as the whistleblower complaint is non-frivolous. Under the existing law a whistleblower has to actually win their case. This puts whistleblowers at a huge disadvantage because they risk being financially destroyed by taking on an agency. The new law also requires OSC to communicate more with whistleblowers. This was a nearly universal complaint about OSC. Those with a complaint pending before OSC or MSPB should read the full text of the bill to see how it will help them and fellow federal employees.

  Voltaire Posted October 15, 2007 1:56 PM
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  The MSPB, and OSC have been corrupt and useless for the purpose of exposing gross fraud and other wrongdoing in the Executive Branch since their emergence from a very fetid Office of Personnel Management. All three agencies subvert and distort the letter and spirit of their legislative mandates. They are routinely complicit in blowing off and covering up misfeasance and malfeasance by exective branch managers to include prohibited personnel practices. Such behavior typically trancends both democratic and republican administrations. Any effort to rectify this problem would require dissolution of MSPB, OSC, and OPM and of their entire senior management cadre. They are generally lacking in integrity and competency and are thereby unfit for public service.

  Ken Huffman Posted October 11, 2007 11:49 AM
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  I recently filed a case with the OSC for reprisal after I identified possible prohibited personnel practices that were occurring to the attention of my managers. With no investigation the attorney determined that the reprimand that I received later was unrelated to this disclosure. Now I have to spend thousands of dollars to have this appealed to the MSPB. As a federal employee the agencies that are tasked with protecting my rights need to function since some of my tax dollars fund them. I am thankful that Congress is reviewing their funding.

  Linda M. Bell Posted September 18, 2007 4:16 PM
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  I complained, years ago, to the OSC about the deliberate misclassification of NRC Office of Investigations personnel as Criminal Investigators. The OSC dropped my case like a hot potato, doing no investigation of their own when they found that the NRC Inspector General had a report on the subject (a blatant cover-up I had warned them about). I had provided them with more information than an outside investigator could ever develop, and sent it to them. They need help and revision.

  James E. Foster Posted September 18, 2007 2:11 PM
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  OSC blew off a backlog of 3,000 cases a few yers back. I submitted a case of systemic illegal hiring practices at Navy and included a specific case where Naval Sea Systems Command told a 30-year old black veteran that they only hired 20 and 21 year old candidates AND that living in DC was extremely difficult and expensive. As a result of their lies, she declined consideration and was removed from the hiring certificate as they had illegally planned. OSC rejected the case and sent me to the VA. The VA said it was under OSC jurisdiction. I went back to OSC and they said only the veteran whom the illegal hiring action was aimed at could submit a complaint. I told OSC she was unaware of the illegal action, just as many, many veterans before her and after her were unaware of violations of Federal hiring law. I advised OSC that since they were provided unrefutable proof and the fact that those subject to the illegal action not being aware it occurred, they must accept the case for investigation. They blew off my complaint and the violations of law continue.

  Dan Diviney Posted September 18, 2007 8:41 AM
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  This congressional action is little more than an exercise in futility.

  Ken Huffman Posted September 17, 2007 11:54 PM