Internal U.S. Marshals Policy Ambiguous on Whistleblower Rights

Statement

An internal U.S. Marshals Service policy limiting communications with Congress does not clearly express legal protections for employees who disclose fraud, waste or misconduct. The policy can lead to confusion for staff, and impede oversight needed to improve government operations and guard taxpayer dollars.

In a letter to Attorney General Loretta Lynch, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley‎ is calling on the agency to clarify the policy to include legally protected rights of employees to communicate with Congress.

‎Grassley's letter follows an October 23, 2015, letter to Lynch reiterating whistleblower protections after the Committee obtained email correspondence in which an assistant chief inspector at the Marshals Service discouraged an employee from communicating with the Senate Judiciary Committee on an oversight matter.

‎In February, Grassley raised similar concerns with the FBI, which later revised ITS policy to articulate that it should be applied in a manner consistent with federal law, specifically including whistleblower protections.

Grassley has been investigating ‎claims of improper hiring practices and misuse of funds at the Marshals Service for much of this year following whistleblower disclosures.

Source