Press Releases

Today, Rep. Gerald E. Connolly, Ranking Member of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, sent a letter to Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Doug Collins requesting documents and information following troubling reporting that former VA staff tasked with terminating employees and reorganizing the agency workforce were forced to sign agreements pledging not to disclose information on employee communications, agreements likely to “extend beyond their termination.”  The implementation of these nondisclosure agreements could prevent federal employees from disclosing violations of waste, fraud, and abuse to Congress.  

“I write with concern regarding reports that employees with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) tasked by the Trump Administration with slashing its headcount by approximately 80,000 employees have been required to sign gag orders that may be unlawful.  Federal whistleblowers save lives, save taxpayer money, and bravely speak truth to power in cases of wrongdoing, mismanagement, or other abuses of power by the government.  To ensure that the Trump Administration is not unlawfully prohibiting or intimidating current or former employees from communicating any such abuses to Congress, I request documents and information related to these reports,” wrote Ranking Member Connolly.

In his letter, the Ranking Member cites concerns about potential efforts by the Trump Administration to undercut whistleblower protections.  The bipartisan Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act requires gag orders for federal employees to include a mandatory statement that employee communications with Congress and Inspectors General are protected, explicitly prohibiting agencies from implementing or enforcing gag orders on potential whistleblowers.

“For more than a century, Congress has safeguarded and championed the ability of federal employees to report waste, fraud, and abuse within the Executive Branch directly to Congress and other federal watchdogs.  It is imperative that these courageous truthtellers are able to expose misconduct without fear of retaliation or reprisal.  For these reasons, I request that you produce the following documents and information by May 26, 2025,” concluded Ranking Member Connolly. 

Click here to read the letter to VA Secretary Doug Collins.