Whistleblower Protection and Other Resources

By Office of Science Quality and Integrity

Retaliation for filing a scientific integrity complaint can qualify as a prohibited personnel practice under whistleblower protection statutes. Please see the links below for contacts and information for retaliation, harassment, discrimination, dispute resolution, or ombuds support.

Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 1213, the U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) is authorized to provide an independent and secure channel for use by current or former Federal employees and applicants for Federal employment to disclose information that they reasonably believe evidences wrongdoing by a Federal agency. OSC can receive information that discloses a violation of any law, rule, or regulation; gross mismanagement; a gross waste of funds; an abuse of authority; a substantial and specific danger to public health or safety; or censorship related to scientific research or the integrity of the scientific process if the censorship will cause one of the aforementioned categories of wrongdoing. For more information visit https://osc.gov/.

DOI Office of Inspector General (OIG) Whistleblower Protection

OIG Hotline

U.S. Office of Special Counsel Prohibited Personnel Practices

U.S. Office of Special Counsel Disclosure of Wrongdoing

USGS Collaborative Action and Dispute Resolution (CADR)

USGS Reporting and Decision Resources

DOI Ombuds