Bill would up protections for military whistleblowers

A Democratic group of senators is pushing to increase protections for military whistleblowers, including victims of sexual assault.

Sens. Barbara Boxer (Calif.), Ed Markey (Mass.) and Ron Wyden (Ore.) have introduced the Legal Justice for Servicemembers Act, which would allow an inspector general to temporarily suspend actions against a military whistleblower if the actions are causing “significant hardship.”

{mosads}It would also put the burden of proof in military whistleblower cases in line with other federal civilian whistleblower standards.

The senators tied the legislation to a push to offer greater protections to survivors of military sexual assault.

“Servicemembers who bravely speak out about wrongdoing or misconduct — especially sexual assault survivors — deserve to know that they will be protected from retaliation,” Boxer said in a statement. “This bill will help ensure that whistleblowers who experience reprisal receive justice and that retaliators are held accountable.”

The senators noted that during the 2014 fiscal year, the Defense Department inspector general, as well inspectors general within the military branches, closed 645 claims of whistleblower retaliation, with 26 cases, or less than 5 percent, being substantiated.

“We must do everything we can to ensure whistleblowers, especially those shining a light on the devastation of sexual assault, are protected and are not subjected to harassment or retaliation for serving as modern-day Paul Reveres,” Markey said.

Approximately 30 advocacy groups have already backed the legislation.

While military whistleblower protections have been updated since the original Military Whistleblower Protection Act was introduced in 1988, “these changes have not kept pace with similar increases in protections in civilian whistleblower statutes, and as a result, servicemembers are more likely to face retaliation for reporting illegal activities,” the groups said in a letter to Boxer. “That is unacceptable.”

Rep. Jackie Speier (D-Calif.) is introducing companion legislation in the House.