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Increase Protections For Whistleblowers |
"Barack Obama will strengthen whistleblower laws to protect federal workers who expose waste, fraud, and abuse of authority in government."
-- Obama's "The Change We Need In Washington"
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MARCH 11, 2009
Signing Statement Questions Protections
Obama noted in a signing statement accompanying the FY09 omnibus spending bill that he would make exceptions to a provision protecting whistleblowers. In the statement, Obama said: "I do not interpret this provision to detract from my authority to direct the heads of executive departments to supervise, control, and correct employees' communications with the Congress in cases where such communications would be unlawful or would reveal information that is properly privileged or otherwise confidential." |
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FEBRUARY 17, 2009
Protections Cut From Stimulus Bill
The House and Senate each passed protections for federal whistleblowers but were unable to reconcile their conflicting versions. The measure was eventually dropped. |
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JANUARY 22, 2009
Ethics Agenda Section Disappears
The page on WhiteHouse.gov detailing President Obama's ethics pledges, including this one [PDF], was replaced with a message telling readers to "please check back soon" for updates related to the president's executive order placing limits on lobbyist activity. |
