NATIONAL WHISTLEBLOWER DAY
CELEBRATING THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF WHISTLEBLOWERS
National Whistleblower Day commemorates the bold vision of our Founding Fathers and their uncompromising support for whistleblowers.
This year marks the 243rd anniversary of America's first whistleblower law, passed unanimously on July 30th, 1778 during the height of the American Revolution. The law was passed after ten whistleblowers reported wrongdoing and abuses committed by a superior officer in the Continental Navy.
In the law, the Continental Congress wrote: "That it is the duty of all persons in the service of the United States, as well as all other inhabitants thereof, to give the earliest information of wrongdoing to Congress or other proper authority of any misconduct, frauds or misdemeanors committed by any officers or persons in the service of these states, which may come to their knowledge.”
Beginning in 2013, the Senate, led by Sen. Charles Grassley, has unanimously passed a resolution honoring "National Whistleblower Appreciation Day" on July 30th to commemorate the enactment of the law, and beginning in 2015, the National Whistleblower Center has held an event on this day to celebrate whistleblowers. You can find videos and photo galleries from previous years here, and learn more about the history of National Whistleblower Day here.
It is critical that we see this tradition continued and expanded. That’s why this year we’re asking both chambers of Congress and President Biden to permanently designate July 30th as National Whistleblower Day.
Please join us in asking Congress and the President to take action in support of whistleblowers today.
The National Whistleblower Center has also reached out to each executive agency to offer our support with any National Whistleblower Day celebrations, including through the provision of educational resources and digital promotion of events and materials.
In recent years, the Department of Homeland Security, the Director of National Intelligence, the Office of the Special Counsel, and the Council of Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency have hosted or participated in programming commemorating National Whistleblower Appreciation Day. We hope to see each agency participate this year.
Widespread recognition of the importance of whistleblowing from the federal government could change the culture of retaliation against whistleblowers that persists.