DOJ Issues Memo on Gaps in Whistleblower Protections for Contractors
The Department of Justice (DOJ) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) sent a management advisory memorandum to remind personnel about whistleblower rights and protections for contractors. Michael Horowitz, DOJ’s Inspector General, sent the memo to Michael Allen, who is the Deputy Assistant Attorney General and Senior Procurement Executive in the Justice Management Division.
In 2018, the IG issued a report with several recommendations on enhancing whistleblower protections. Since then, the DOJ has spent more money on contracts- from $7.8 billion in 2018 to $8.3 billion in 2020.
Horowitz explained, “The department has the responsibility to ensure its contractors inform their workers of whistleblower rights and protections,” due to the “critical role that whistleblowers play in helping our government to remain efficient and accountable, and to ensure appropriate stewardship of taxpayer dollars.”
Contractors for the government should be aware of the rights they have in regard to whistleblowing. For example, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) awarded $29 million in two contracts for crime gun intelligence support, but the contracts did not include the required whistleblower protection clauses. ATF identified 74 other contracts with the same issue.
According to a DOJ spokesperson, “[The] department agrees that contractor employees need to be informed of their whistleblower rights,” and is “working on process revisions to ensure proper controls as recommended by the [IG office].”
