Short title

This Act may be cited as the

Whistleblower Protection Improvement Act of 2021

Additional whistleblower protections

(a)

Investigations as personnel actions

(1)

In general

Section 2302(a)(2)(A) of title 5, United States Code, is amended—(A)in clause (xi), by striking and at the end;(B)by redesignating clause (xii) as clause (xiii); and(C)by adding after the clause (xi) the following:

(xii)the opening of any investigation as a result of a disclosure protected by subsection (b)(8), but not including—(I)any investigation that is ministerial or nondiscretionary; or(II)any investigation that is conducted by an Inspector General of an entity of the Federal Government of an employee not employed by the office of that Inspector General; and

(2)

Application

The amendment made by paragraph (1) shall apply to any investigation opened (as described under section 2302(a)(2)(A)(xii) of title 5, United States Code, as added by such paragraph) on or after the date of enactment of this Act. (b)

Right to petition Congress

(1)

In general

Section 2302(b)(9) of title 5, United States Code, is amended—(A)in subparagraph (C), by striking or at the end;(B)in subparagraph (D), by adding or at the end after the semicolon; and(C)by adding at the end the following:

(E)the exercise of any right protected under section 7211;

(2)

Application

The amendment made by paragraph (1) shall apply to the exercise of any right described in section 2302(b)(9)(E) of title 5, United States Code, as added by paragraph (1), occurring on or after the date of enactment of this Act. (c)

Prohibition on disclosure of whistleblower identity

(1)

In general

Section 2302 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

(g)(1)No employee of an agency may willfully communicate or transmit to any individual who is not an officer or employee of the Government the identity of, or personally identifiable information about, any other employee who has made, or is suspected to have made, a disclosure protected by subsection (b)(8), unless—(A)the other employee provides express written consent prior to the communication or transmission;(B)the communication or transmission is made in accordance with the provisions of section 552a;(C)the communication or transmission is made to a lawyer for the sole purpose of providing legal advice to an employee accused of whistleblower retaliation; or(D)the communication or transmission is required or permitted by any other provision of law.(2)In this subsection, the term officer or employee of the Government means—(A)the President;(B)a Member of Congress;(C)a member of the uniformed services; (D)an employee as that term is defined in section 2105, including an employee of the United States Postal Service, the Postal Regulatory Commission, or the Department of Veterans Affairs (including any employee appointed pursuant to chapter 73 or 74 of title 38); and(E)any other officer or employee in any branch of the Government of the United States.

(2)

Application

The amendment made by paragraph (1) shall apply to any transmission or communication described in subsection (g) of section 2302 of title 5, United States Code, as added by paragraph (1), made on or after the date of enactment of this Act. (d)

Right to petition Congress

(1)

In general

Section 7211 of title 5, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:

7211.

Employees’ right to petition or furnish information or respond to Congress

(a)

In general

Each officer or employee of the Federal Government, individually or collectively, has a right to—(1)petition Congress or a Member of Congress;(2)furnish information, documents, or testimony to either House of Congress, any Member of Congress, or any committee or subcommittee of the Congress; or(3)respond to any request for information, documents, or testimony from either House of Congress or any Committee or subcommittee of Congress.(b)

Prohibited actions

No officer or employee of the Federal Government may interfere with or deny the right set forth in subsection (a), including by—(1)prohibiting or preventing, or attempting or threatening to prohibit or prevent, any other officer or employee of the Federal Government from engaging in activity protected in subsection (a); or(2)removing, suspending from duty without pay, demoting, reducing in rank, seniority, status, pay, or performance or efficiency rating, denying promotion to, relocating, reassigning, transferring, disciplining, or discriminating in regard to any employment right, entitlement, or benefit, or any term or condition of employment of, any other officer or employee of the Federal Government or attempting or threatening to commit any of the foregoing actions protected in subsection (a).(c)

Application

This section shall not be construed to authorize disclosure of any information that is—(1)specifically prohibited from disclosure by any other provision of Federal law; or(2)specifically required by Executive order to be kept secret in the interest of national defense or the conduct of foreign affairs, unless disclosure is otherwise authorized by law.(d)

Definition of officer or employee of the Federal Government

For purposes of this section, the term officer or employee of the Federal Government includes—(1)the President;(2)a Member of Congress;(3)a member of the uniformed services; (4)an employee (as that term is defined in section 2105);(5)an employee of the United States Postal Service or the Postal Regulatory Commission; and(6)an employee appointed under chapter 73 or 74 of title 38.

(2)

Clerical amendment

The table of sections for subchapter II of chapter 72 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by striking the item related to section 7211 and inserting the following:

7211. Employees’ right to petition or furnish information or respond to Congress.

Enhancement of whistleblower protections

(a)

Disclosures relating to officers or employees of an Office of Inspector General

Section 1213(c) of title 5, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

(3)If the information transmitted under this subsection disclosed a violation of law, rule, or regulation, or gross waste, gross mismanagement, abuse of authority, or a substantial and specific danger to public health or safety, by any officer or employee of an Office of Inspector General, the Special Counsel may refer the matter to the Committee of Inspectors General for Integrity and Efficiency, which shall comply with the standards and procedures applicable to investigations and reports under subsection (c).

(b)

Ensuring timely relief

(1)

Individual right of action

Section 1221 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by striking section 2302(b)(8) or section 2302(b)(9)(A)(i), (B), (C), or (D), in each instance and inserting section 2302(b)(8), section 2302(b)(9)(A)(i), (B), (C), (D), or (E), section 2302(b)(13), or section 2302(g),. (2)

Stays

Section 1221(c)(2) of title 5, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:

(2)Any stay requested under paragraph (1) shall be granted within 10 calendar days (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays) after the date the request is made, if the Board determines—(A)that there is a substantial likelihood that protected activity was a contributing factor to the personnel action involved; or(B)the Board otherwise determines that such a stay would be appropriate.

(3)

Appeal of stay

Section 1221(c) of title 5, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

(4)If any stay requested under paragraph (1) is denied, the employee, former employee, or applicant may, within 7 days after receiving notice of the denial, file an appeal for expedited review by the Board. The agency shall have 7 days thereafter to respond. The Board shall provide a decision not later than 21 days after receiving the appeal. During the period of appeal, both parties may supplement the record with information unavailable to them at the time the stay was first requested.

(4)

Access to district court; jury trials

Section 1221(i) of title 5, United States Code, is amended—(A)by striking (i) Subsections and inserting (i)(1) Subsections; and (B)by adding at the end the following:

(2)(A)If, in the case of an employee, former employee, or applicant for employment who seeks corrective action from the Merit Systems Protection Board based on an alleged prohibited personnel practice described in section 2302(b)(8), section 2302(b)(9)(A)(i), (B), (C), (D), or (E), section 2302(b)(13), or section 2302(g), no final order or decision is issued by the Board within 180 days after the date on which a request for such corrective action has been duly submitted to the Board, such employee, former employee, or applicant may, after providing written notice to the Special Counsel and the Board and only within 20 days after providing such notice, bring an action for review de novo before the appropriate United States district court, and such action shall, at the request of either party to such action, be tried before a jury. Upon filing of an action with the appropriate United States district court, any proceedings before the Board shall cease and the employee, former employee, or applicant for employment waives any right to refile with the Board.(B)If the Board certifies (in writing) to the parties of a case that the complexity of such case requires a longer period of review, subparagraph (A) shall be applied by substituting 240 days for 180 days.(C)In any such action brought before a United States district court under subparagraph (A), the court—(i)shall apply the standards set forth in subsection (e); and(ii)may award any relief which the court considers appropriate, including any relief described in subsection (g).

(c)

Recipients of whistleblower disclosures

Section 2302(b)(8)(B) of title 5, United States Code, is amended by striking or to the Inspector General of an agency or another employee designated by the head of the agency to receive such disclosures and inserting the Inspector General of an agency, a supervisor in the employee’s direct chain of command up to and including the head of the employing agency, or to an employee designated by any of the aforementioned individuals for the purpose of receiving such disclosures.(d)

Attorney fees

Section 7703(a) of title 5, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

(3)If an employee, former employee, or applicant for employment is the prevailing party under an appeal under this section, the employee, former employee, or applicant for employment shall be entitled to attorney fees for all representation carried out pursuant to this section. In such an action for attorney fees, the agency responsible for taking the personnel action shall be the respondent and shall be responsible for paying the fees.

(e)

Extending Whistleblower Protection Act to certain employees

(1)

In general

Section 2302(a)(2)(A) of title 5, United States Code, is amended in the matter following clause (xiii)—(A)by inserting subsection (b)(9)(A)(i), (B), (C), (D), or (E), subsection (b)(13), or subsection (g), after subsection (b)(8),; and(B)by inserting after title 31 the following: , a commissioned officer or applicant for employment in the Public Health Service, an officer or applicant for employment in the commissioned officer corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and a noncareer appointee in the Senior Executive Service.(2)

Conforming amendments

Section 261 of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps Act of 2002 (33 U.S.C. 3071) is amended—(A)in subsection (a)—(i)by striking paragraph (8); and(ii)by redesignating paragraphs (9) through (25) as paragraphs (8) through (24), respectively; and(B)in subsection (b), by striking the second sentence. (3)

Application

(A)

In general

With respect to an officer or applicant for employment in the commissioned officer corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the amendments made by paragraphs (1) and (2) shall apply to any personnel action taken against such officer or applicant on or after the date of enactment of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps Amendments Act of 2020 (Public Law 116–259) for making any disclosure protected under section 2302(8) of title 5, United States Code.(B)

Exception

Subparagraph (A) shall not apply to any personnel action with respect to which a complaint has been filed pursuant to section 1034 of title 10, United States Code, and a final decision has been rendered regarding such complaint.(f)

Relief

Section 7701(b)(2)(A) of title 5, United States Code, is amended by striking upon the making of the decision and inserting upon making of the decision, necessary to make the employee whole as if there had been no prohibited personnel practice, including training, seniority and promotions consistent with the employee’s prior record,.

Classifying certain furloughs as adverse personnel actions

(a)

In general

Section 7512 of title 5, United States Code, is amended—(1)in paragraph (4), by striking and at the end; and(2)by striking paragraph (5) and inserting the following:

(5)a furlough of more than 14 days but less than 30 days; and(6)a furlough of 13 days or less that is not due to a lapse in appropriations;

(b)

Application

The amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply to any furlough covered by such section 7512(5) or (6) (as amended by such subsection) occurring on or after the date of enactment of this Act.

Codification of protections for disclosures of censorship related to research, analysis, or technical information

(a)

In general

Section 2302 of title 5, United States Code, as amended by section 2(c)(1), is further amended by adding at the end the following:

(h)(1)In this subsection—(A)the term applicant means an applicant for a covered position;(B) the term censorship related to research, analysis, or technical information means any effort to distort, misrepresent, or suppress research, analysis, or technical information; and(C)the term employee means an employee in a covered position in an agency.(2)(A)Any disclosure of information by an employee or applicant for employment that the employee or applicant reasonably believes is evidence of censorship related to research, analysis, or technical information—(i)shall come within the protections of subsection (b)(8)(A) if—(I)the employee or applicant reasonably believes that the censorship related to research, analysis, or technical information is or will cause—(aa)any violation of law, rule, or regulation; or(bb) gross mismanagement, a gross waste of funds, an abuse of authority, or a substantial and specific danger to public health or safety; and(II) such disclosure is not specifically prohibited by law or such information is not specifically required by Executive order to be kept classified in the interest of national defense or the conduct of foreign affairs; and(ii)shall come within the protections of subsection (b)(8)(B) if—(I)the employee or applicant reasonably believes that the censorship related to research, analysis, or technical information is or will cause—(aa)any violation of law, rule, or regulation; or(bb)gross mismanagement, a gross waste of funds, an abuse of authority, or a substantial and specific danger to public health or safety; and (II) the disclosure is made to the Special Counsel, or to the Inspector General of an agency or another person designated by the head of the agency to receive such disclosures, consistent with the protection of sources and methods.(3)A disclosure shall not be excluded from paragraph (2) for any reason described under subsection (f)(1) or (2).(4)Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to imply any limitation on the protections of employees and applicants afforded by any other provision of law, including protections with respect to any disclosure of information believed to be evidence of censorship related to research, analysis, or technical information.

(b)

Repeal

(1)

In general

Section 110 of the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act of 2012 (Public Law 112–199) is hereby repealed.(2)

Rule of construction

Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit or otherwise affect any action under such section 110 commenced before the date of enactment of this Act or any protections afforded by such section with respect to such action.

Title 5 technical and conforming amendments

Title 5, United States Code, is amended—(1)in section 1212(h), by striking or (9) in each instance and inserting , (b)(9), (b)(13), or (g);(2)in section 1214(a)—(A)by striking section 2302(b)(8) or section 2302(b)(9)(A)(i), (B), (C), or (D) in each instance and inserting section 2302(b)(8), section 2302(b)(9)(A)(i), (B), (C), (D), or (E), section 2302(b)(13), or section 2302(g); and(B)in subsection (i), by striking section 2302(b)(8) or subparagraph (A)(i), (B), (C), or (D) of section 2302(b)(9) and inserting section 2302(b)(8), subparagraph (A)(i), (B), (C), (D), or (E) of section 2302(b)(9), section 2302(b)(13), or section 2302(g); (3)in section 1215, by striking section 2302(b)(8), or 2302(b)(9)(A)(i), (B), (C), or (D) in each instance and inserting section 2302(b)(8), section 2302(b)(9)(A)(i), (B), (C), (D), or (E), section 2302(b)(13), or section 2302(g);(4)in section 2302—(A)in subsection (a)—(i)in paragraph (1), by inserting or (g) after subsection (b); and(ii)in paragraph (2)(C)(i), by striking subsection (b)(8) or section 2302(b)(9)(A)(i), (B), (C), or (D) and inserting section 2302(b)(8), section 2302(b)(9)(A)(i), (B), (C), (D), or (E), section 2302(b)(13), or section 2302(g); and(B)in subsection (c)(1)(B), by striking paragraph (8) or subparagraph (A)(i), (B), (C), or (D) of paragraph (9) of subsection (b) and inserting paragraph (8), subparagraph (A)(i), (B), (C), or (D) of paragraph (9), or paragraph (13) of subsection (b) or subsection (g);(5)in section 7515(a)(2), by striking paragraph (8), (9), or (14) of section 2302(b) and inserting paragraph (8), (9), (13), or (14) of section 2302(b) or section 2302(g);(6)in section 7701(c)(2)(B), by inserting or section 2302(g) after section 2302(b); and(7)in section 7703(b)(1)(B), by striking section 2302(b)(8), or 2302(b)(9)(A)(i), (B), (C), or (D) in each instance and inserting section 2302(b)(8), section 2302(b)(9)(A)(i), (B), (C), (D), or (E), section 2302(b)(13), or section 2302(g).