Obama signs whistleblower protection law

Updated: 2012-11-28 07:28

(Xinhua)

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WASHINGTON - US President Barack Obama on Tuesday signed into law a legislation that better protects federal employees who expose government fraud, waste and abuse.

According to a White House statement, the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act of 2012, signed into law by Obama, amends whistleblower protections for federal employees by expanding protection for disclosures of government wrongdoing, as well as protection coverage and fair processes for the whistleblowers, even if they are not the first person to disclose misconduct, or blow the whistle while carrying out their job duties.

The law also makes it easier to punish those who try to retaliate against whistleblowers by expanding the penalties imposed for violating whistleblower protections, and establishes Whistleblower Protection Ombudsmen in certain agencies.

Government Accountability Project, a whistleblower protection and advocacy organization, praised the move, saying the legislation provides "millions of federal workers with the rights they need to report government corruption and wrongdoing safely."

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