WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley, Sen. Claire McCaskill, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, Rep. Jason Chaffetz and Rep. Elijah Cummings are asking the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General to account for progress in properly investigating cases of whistleblower reprisal, a longstanding concern, despite some recent improvements.
 
“We believe, however, that there are ongoing challenges, including significant delays in investigation, the lack of a fully implemented, reliable, and comprehensive case management system, ineffective oversight of service branch inspector general (Service IG) reprisal investigations, and allegations of reprisal and misconduct within the DoD OIG itself,” the legislators wrote to Acting Inspector General Glenn Fine.  “We write to express our concerns regarding what appear to be persistent, systemic issues with the DoD OIG, and our hope that you will work diligently to help resolve them.”  
 
The letter outlines a series of findings and concerns documenting problems with whistleblower reprisal investigations, involving both Defense Department personnel and contractors.  Problems include chronic noncompliance with statutory notification requirements, poor case management, significant challenges in tracking and monitoring Service IG reprisal investigations, a lack of implementation of key recommendations from the Government Accountability Office, a low substantiation rate in reprisal cases, and allegations referred for investigation by the Office of Special Counsel to the Department of Justice Office of Inspector General that senior DoD OIG officials destroyed documents that would have helped a National Security Agency whistleblower.
 
“As legislators who have worked with our colleagues from both sides of the aisle for many years to protect whistleblowers, we are baffled by the painful irony that an office responsible for investigating reprisal is charged with committing it,” the legislators wrote. 
 
The legislators asked a series a questions on how the DoD OIG is addressing the numerous problems outlined in the letter.  
 
The letter is available here.
 
 

 

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