July 30th Designated National Whistleblower Appreciation Day: Feds Required to Publicize Reporting Rights

This resolution officially designates July 30, 2025, as 'National Whistleblower Appreciation Day.' It’s not just a feel-good gesture; it comes with a mandate for federal executive agencies. The goal is to reinforce the policy that encourages citizens—including federal employees and contractors—to report waste, fraud, and abuse honestly and in good faith, as long as it doesn't involve revealing classified information.

The Backstory: From 1778 to Today

The resolution grounds itself in history, pointing out that the very first law protecting people who report misconduct was passed by the Continental Congress back in 1778. Essentially, the Founding Fathers saw protecting those who speak up as a core duty of government. This resolution aims to bring that spirit back to the forefront, recognizing that people who take the risk to report wrongdoing often save taxpayers billions and keep the government accountable.

The Mandatory Agency To-Do List

For busy people, the most important part of this resolution isn't the date; it's what federal agencies are now required to do. Every executive agency must use this designated day to recognize the contributions of whistleblowers and, crucially, to inform all their employees, government contractors, and the general public about the legal rights they have to report misconduct, fraud, or violations of U.S. laws.

Think of this as a mandatory annual refresher course on your rights. If you’re a federal employee or a contractor working on a government project, this means your agency needs to be proactive about telling you exactly how and where you can report wrongdoing without fear of retaliation. For the rest of us, it’s a public affirmation that reporting government misconduct is not just allowed but encouraged.

What This Means for Everyday Accountability

This resolution is purely about recognition and education, which is a good thing for transparency. By requiring agencies to publicly acknowledge and educate people on these rights, it potentially lowers the barrier for employees who might see something wrong but aren't sure how to report it safely. For taxpayers, more informed whistleblowers ideally mean more waste and fraud gets caught, saving money in the long run. The main caveat, noted in the resolution, is the long-standing rule that reporting must be done honestly and in good faith, and cannot involve revealing classified information. This keeps the focus squarely on ethical reporting of misconduct, not leaking state secrets.