Whistleblowers at the Department of Veterans Affairs might be missing out on compensation, as per watchdog findings, due to insufficient supervision.

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has published a report, revealing shortfalls in the monitoring of whistleblower cases at the Veterans Affairs (VA) Department. The report, released on Thursday, underscores the importance of ensuring the protection of whistleblowers, who often face professional and personal consequences for speaking up.

One of the key findings of the report is the inconsistent tracking of settlement agreement data by the VA's Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection (OAWP). This inconsistency makes it challenging for the VA to confirm that all necessary corrective actions have been carried out.

The report also points out that the OAWP does not systematically collect information about backpay provided in whistleblower retaliation settlement agreements. This lack of systematic data collection could potentially leave the VA unaware of potential breaches of its obligations.

In contrast, the Office of Special Counsel (OSC) reported 90 whistleblower retaliation settlement agreements for VA cases from fiscal 2019 through 2023, while the VA's OAWP reported 30. However, without coordination between OAWP and OSC, the VA may continue to miss a significant proportion of relevant data on whistleblower retaliation cases that were settled.

The report further reveals that most of the whistleblower retaliation settlement agreements reviewed by GAO did not identify an official for the whistleblower to contact if they believed the VA breached the agreement. This omission could potentially hinder the process of addressing any potential breaches.

The issue is particularly sensitive because whistleblowers are often retaliated against for speaking out. A recent case saw a VA whistleblower spending $20,000 in legal fees and losing their home due to their actions as a whistleblower.

In response to the report, the VA has concurred with GAO's recommendations for OAWP to consistently track corrective actions for whistleblowers, have the authority to oversee enforcement of whistleblower retaliation settlement agreements, and coordinate with OSC on accurately recording such agreements. The VA plans to implement all of these recommendations before the end of the calendar year.

Elsewhere, the Senate has advanced bills aimed at protecting whistleblowers and addressing issues related to the retirement benefits of Customs and Border Protection workers. In Germany, the Federal Commissioner for the Affairs of Whistleblowers is responsible for overseeing the implementation of settlement payments for whistleblowers in cases of criminal allegations against civil servants.

The OSC also recognised federal mine safety employees who blew the whistle about skipped inspections. This recognition underscores the importance of whistleblowers in ensuring the integrity and safety of various industries.

GAO recommends that OSC coordinate with OAWP to accurately record whistleblower retaliation settlement agreements. This coordination is crucial to ensuring that all relevant data on whistleblower retaliation cases is accounted for, and that the VA can effectively address any potential breaches of its obligations.

Whistleblowers at the Department of Veterans Affairs might be missing out on compensation, as per watchdog findings, due to insufficient supervision.