Most of the United States’ intelligence is kept secret from the general public in order to protect the information from falling into the wrong hands. The intelligence can become leaked to the press and public very easily. People who expose private government information are considered enforcers of transparent operation and a threat to national security. These whistleblowers have the potential to expose government corruption and fraud that would end up on the evening news. The bad publicity would cause whatever fraud to get immediate attention and be dealt with. This corrects any frauds covered up in the name of classified information and can change public opinions about people involved. At the same time however, the less your enemy knows
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Jesselyn Raddack, the homeland security director at the Government Accountability Project stated that “First of all, the primary whistleblower law, the Whistleblower Protection Act of 1989, does not even cover FBI and intelligence agency whistleblowers. Second, it is riddled with problems.”(Berlatsky, 91). This means that the current laws in place to protect whistleblowers do not even protect those who may have access to more information about fraud. Raddack also states that only 3 out of 53 cases have been won since 2000. Ellen K Boegel stated in her article that “Whistleblower laws and the False Claims act [(allowing anyone outside of the government to report fraud)] encourage reporting of fraud and misconduct, but awareness of their procedures and additional protection for those who deal with sensitive government information can be improved.”(Boegel). The protection given by these laws is very weak and most of the time, managers are not going to tell their employees: “This is how you report me for doing illegal activities”. Charles Grassley was quoted saying in response to the protection of government scientists: “The best way to protect yourself is not to say anything, you don't always need to come out and be on the evening news.”(Scudellari). If there is not a safe path for the information to flow to the public, without the leaker being harmed in some way, the information will be
Jesselyn Raddack, the homeland security director at the Government Accountability Project stated that “First of all, the primary whistleblower law, the Whistleblower Protection Act of 1989, does not even cover FBI and intelligence agency whistleblowers. Second, it is riddled with problems.”(Berlatsky, 91). This means that the current laws in place to protect whistleblowers do not even protect those who may have access to more information about fraud. Raddack also states that only 3 out of 53 cases have been won since 2000. Ellen K Boegel stated in her article that “Whistleblower laws and the False Claims act [(allowing anyone outside of the government to report fraud)] encourage reporting of fraud and misconduct, but awareness of their procedures and additional protection for those who deal with sensitive government information can be improved.”(Boegel). The protection given by these laws is very weak and most of the time, managers are not going to tell their employees: “This is how you report me for doing illegal activities”. Charles Grassley was quoted saying in response to the protection of government scientists: “The best way to protect yourself is not to say anything, you don't always need to come out and be on the evening news.”(Scudellari). If there is not a safe path for the information to flow to the public, without the leaker being harmed in some way, the information will be