Another Example of Why Court Access for All Federal Employees is Essential for Meaningful Whistleblower Protection
On Monday, the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) issued a decision once again denying whistleblower protection to a courageous federal employee. In July 2003, U.S. Federal Air Marshal Robert MacLean blew the whistle on the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) plans to remove air marshals from long distance flights during the height of a terrorist alert in order to save money. Congressional outrage the day after MacLean’s disclosure prevented the TSA from implementing the plan and the security of long distance flights was never compromised. On August 31, 2006, over four months after terminating MacLean and over three years after MacLean’s disclosure the TSA issued a regulation labeling his disclosure as Sensitive Security Information (sensitive but unclassified information).
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