Federal Government Policy and Business

'Every Leak Makes Us Weak' Campaign Runs Risk of Discouraging Legitimate Disclosures

Government Executive: Wall posters at the Energy Department‘s headquarters warn employees that “Every leak makes us weak.” The campaign forms part of the governmentwide “insider threat” program aimed at deterring release of classified information, but whistleblower advocates are crying foul, pointing to the posters’ failure to distinguish between illegal leaking and employees’ rights to disclose waste, fraud and abuse.

The nonprofit Project on Government Oversight last week in a letter sent to Energy officials as well as the Office of Special Counsel called the campaign a “potential violation of the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act.” The group asked OSC to investigate.

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