The Justice Department's Office of Inspector General has created a new "whistleblower ombudsperson" to oversee whistleblower issues within the department - likely in response to the agency's Fast and Furious scandal.
The position will be in charge of informing and training agency personnel about whistleblowers' importance to correcting mistakes, as well as the rights and protections guaranteed whistleblowers. And the ombudsperson will be vigilant about reporting employees being punished for announcing wrongdoing.
"Whistleblowers play a critical role in uncovering waste. fraud. abuse. and mismanagement, and this new position will enable the OIG to continue its leadership as a strong and independent voice within the Department of Justice on whistleblower issues," said Michael Horowitz, the DOJ inspector general.
