On July 30th, the United States will celebrate National Whistleblower Day, the 244th anniversary of the country’s first whistleblower law.
In 1778, during the American Revolution, these whistleblower protections were passed unanimously after a group of ten marines and sailors were retaliated against for filing a complaint against their commanding officer in the Continental Navy. The whistleblowers argued that the officer was unfit for his position due to a variety of abuses, including torturing British prisoners of war. The Continental Congress intervened in the retaliation against these whistleblowers by funding their legal defense and passing a resolution in their favor. For the past 8 years, Congress has passed an annual resolution recognizing National Whistleblower Day to honor the important role whistleblowers have played in promoting transparency and identifying corruption.
Each July 30th, the National Whistleblower Center holds an annual event where the varied accomplishments and impacts of notable whistleblowers in our nation’s history are celebrated. Speakers, participants, and the whistleblowers celebrated come from across the political spectrum, joining together to recognize the importance of protecting whistleblowers. Past speakers include Labor Secretary Marty Walsh, SEC Chair Gary Gensler, Senator Chuck Grassley, and Senator Tammy Duckworth.
Last year, more than 10,000 people tuned in to watch the National Whistleblower Center’s Whistleblower Day event, with dozens of different advocates, policymakers, and whistleblowers speaking on the full range of pressing whistleblower issues. It is a forum to discuss the substantial impact of whistleblower information on exposing corporate fraud, the misuse of public funds, wildlife destruction, the shirking of safety regulations, and any other behavior that harms the public.
Currently, the most pressing obstacle that threatens to stifle important whistleblower information is the fear of retaliation. An analysis of 1,168 whistleblowers showed that around 80% faced some form of retaliation, typically firing, with only 6% of tips resulting in a firm’s internal investigation. Whistleblowers can face termination of employment, demotion, forced psychiatric evaluations, and social exclusion in the workplace as they are made an example of.
Rallying public support for whistleblowers is a key step to encouraging whistleblowers to come forward. The promise of public support discourages employers and government agencies from open retaliation and emboldens those with pressing grievances to report what they know. When whistleblowing is understood by the public as a vector for transparency and the protection of democracy, it becomes more difficult for institutions to get away with common retaliation measures.
It is time that Congress makes National Whistleblower Day a federal day of recognition. This would be a strong statement by the government in support of whistleblowers. It is crucial that the culture of whistleblower retaliation is challenged by public support. With permanent federal recognition of National Whistleblower Day, whistleblowers are celebrated and supported in contrast to the retaliation they often experience after blowing the whistle. Recognizing National Whistleblower Day symbolizes the long-term commitment to improved whistleblower resources badly needed in the United States.
NWC is committed to advocating for whistleblowers and spreading public awareness about the adversity whistleblowers face — to continue with this mission, we need your support. Thank you for reading, and please look out for this year’s National Whistleblower Day event, hosted by NWC.
RSVP for National Whistleblower Day here.
This story was researched and drafted by NWC Intern Harshita Bondhi, a Political Science major at the University of California, Davis.
