Whistleblower Protections -
Information for Non-Federal Employees
(Employees of ED Contractors, Subcontractors, Grantees, and Personal
Services Contractors)

The information on this page applies to you if (1) you do not work for the Federal government, (2) you are an employee of an ED contractor, subcontractor, grantee, subgrantee, or a personal services contractor, and (3) you believe your employer has retaliated against you because you disclosed wrongdoing. If you disclosed wrongdoing related to American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds (“stimulus funds”), please read Whistleblower Protections - American Recovery and Reinvestment Act before you file a complaint.

The law (codified at 41 U.S.C. § 4712) prohibits Federal contractors, subcontractors, grantees, subgrantees and personal services contractors from discharging, demoting or otherwise discriminating against employees who disclose information they reasonably believe is evidence of:

		More Resources File a Whistleblower Complaint Protections for ED Employees, Former Employees, and Job Applicants Protections Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Learn More About Whistleblower Protections

• A violation of law, rule, or regulation related to an ED contract or grant;
• Gross mismanagement of an ED contract or grant;
• A gross waste of ED funds;
• An abuse of authority related to an ED contract or grant;
• A substantial and specific danger to public health or safety.

Disclosures may be protected if they fall into any of these categories. However, disclosures are only protected if they are related to (1) contracts and grants awarded on or after July 1, 2013; (2) task orders entered on or after July 1, 2013, for contracts awarded before, on, or after July 1, 2013, or to (3) contracts awarded before July 1, 2013, that have been modified to include a clause notifying the contractor of this whistleblower provision (click to read “Effective Date of 2013 Amendment” for more information). To be protected, disclosures must have been made to a member of Congress, or a representative of a committee of Congress; the OIG; the Government Accountability Office (GAO); a Federal employee responsible for contract or grant oversight or management at the relevant agency; an authorized official of the U.S. Department of Justice, or other law enforcement agency; a court or grand jury; or a management official or other employee of the contractor, subcontractor, or grantee who has the responsibility to investigate, discover, or address misconduct.

Please note that complaints must be filed within 3 years from the date of alleged retaliatory action to meet one of the requirements for investigation. Click on the button below to file your complaint now.