House moves to protect VA whistleblowers; Obama promises veto

The House passed a measure last week that would give the Department of Veterans Affairs more power to fire poor performers and give whistleblowers some of the strongest protections in history, The Washington Post reported. Under the new legislation, those who retaliate against whistleblowers, including supervisors, would face mandatory discipline, starting with a 14-day minimum suspension for a first offense and could be fired for the second. Also, all VA employees would have to be trained on how to protect whistleblowers. It's "the strongest law in the U.S. Code requiring accountability for bureaucratic bullies who retaliate," said Tom Devine, legal director for the nonprofit Government Accountability Project. Opponents include President Obama, who said he would veto the measure if the Senate approves it because he considers the bill overly broad and a threat to federal workers' due process rights. Article