§733 Training Regarding Whistleblower Disclosures

Summary

The Secretary must give every Department employee training about whistleblower disclosures at least once every two years, working with the Whistleblower Protection Ombudsman named under section 3(d)(1)(C) of the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.). The training must explain how to file a disclosure, the right to petition Congress under section 7211 of title 5, that employees won’t be prosecuted or punished for legally reporting to Congress, the Inspector General, or other investigatory agencies (including protections under sections 5701, 5705, and 7732 of title 38; section 552a of title 5; chapter 93 of title 18; and HIPAA section 264(c) rules), the required language for nondisclosure agreements under section 115(a)(1) of the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act of 2012 (5 U.S.C. 2302 note), and contractor protections under sections 4705 or 4712 of title 41. The training should be in person whenever practical. At least once every two years the Secretary must also provide merit system protection training that the Special Counsel certifies as satisfactory. The Department must post and prominently display employees’ whistleblower rights (including the items above) on its website and at each facility. Whistleblower disclosure means the term as defined in section 323 of this title.