The Downside of “Whistleblowing” and Rep. Elijah Cummings 1 April Hearing on Coast Guard Civil Rights
From the Number One Coast Guard News and Sea Services Site on the Internet
As we lead up to the April 1st Congressional Hearing on “Civil Rights Services and Diversity Initiatives in the Coast Guard,” some current and former employees at Coast Guard have reminded us that the road they traveled was a hard one. The employees who first brought to Coast Guards attention the issues detailed in the Booz Allen Hamilton report did so as far back as 2007. Unfortunately bringing what was then simply concerns about the process turned into counter allegations by management against the employees. Several suffered acts of relentless reprisal, and some continue to feel the effects today.
The Project on Government Oversight (POGO) says this about the process these individuals endure(d):
Whistleblowing is often not easy. Exposed whistleblowers are almost always reprimanded, fired, and/or harassed, even if they have not “gone public” and even if their allegations are proven to be true. It takes a lot of courage and forethought to take on a powerful government agency or a private contractor. The mental, emotional, and fiscal hardships that a whistleblower may encounter should be fully understood before any steps are taken to disseminate information – publicly or not.
In recent years, protections for federal employees have been unraveled by hostile judicial rulings. As a result, federal employees have little protections against retaliation.
When Elijah E. Cummings, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation swings the gavel on 1 April at the opening of the hearing on Civil Rights Services and Diversity Initiatives in the Coast Guard he may or may not get the full story from Coast Guard witnesses.
Unfortunetly I wouldn’t expect too much in the way of substance from Rep Cummings. His bark appears to be much worse than his bite. (Unless of course he and congress see this as an issue to champion with little political downside. If that is the case he may actually go from being a noun to a verb). I think we will see a lot of posturing on both sides, outrage, lots of intent and some promises. After the curtain closes let’s see what actually comes of this. Will there be real changes? Will anyone actually be held accountable? Will the senior leadership continue to skate? Will the victims and whistleblowers be helped and vindicated?
Watch and see how much press coverage this gets and for how long. That may be the key. It seems that if the 4th branch of government is not heaviliy involved and stays the courcse the government will simply spin and do little else.
I bet most whistleblowers expect to be fired etc. They expect their opponents to do bad things. What isn’t necessarily expected is what the “good guys” do or don’t do that can be worse than anything the bad guys do. These actions can invalidate or nullify the actions of the whistleblowers. If the appropriate government officials don’t follow through that action can be just as or more damaging as anything the opposition does. If nothing else it emboldens the opposition and those like them.
Didn’t Coast Guard Report post something about Rep. Cummings giving you an award for stepping out with your story not too long ago? I wonder if he’ll be doing things like that in future if he sees your comment!
Yes Rep Cummings was good to me. I am actually very grateful to him for that and truly wish I thought differently. However I believe he, Rep Oberstar and others in the congress pulled up way too short. Am I supposed to overlook substandard performance regarding security and safety issues in the CG just because Rep Cummings said and did things that were good for me personally? I was very patient and worked as many angles as I could to avoid a situation where I would think and feel this way. (I am going on over two years now since I started working with them). As my focus is and has always been doing the right thing regarding those ships, fixing root causes and holding people accountable I have to call it like I see it when those who should be doing the right thing pull up short or do the wrong thing. I thought about what my sudden published shift would mean, how it might be received and what it might mean regarding my endeavor and my relationships with those I have worked with. If congress had gotten even reasonably close to effecting the outcome I just described I would have been glad to overlook some things and declare victory. Unfortunately that hasn’t happened. Hopefully the DoJ will decide to join the Qui Tam and whatever investigation the DHS IG is doing regarding DW will fill in the gaps. If they do not it might actually wind up that I have to push forward to get these things done – as well as secure the 123 refund. Seems to me that’s not how this is supposed to work.