Congressional Services

The Office of the Whistleblower Ombuds provides confidential services to Member Offices and House Committees in support of their work with whistleblowers – whether they are constituents or oversight sources. Use the dropdowns below to learn more.

Trainings

• The Office offers trainings on best practices for working with whistleblowers. House offices may also request private sessions for any size group. Learn more here.
• The Office also provides regular pop-up tables and other events for House audience. Learn more here.

Developing Procedures

The Office assists Member offices and committees in developing procedures for whistleblower intake and case management. It has a guides and templates to get you started.

• Training Manual: Best Practices for Working with Whistleblowers
• Use our Intake Case Management Infographic and Checklist for key steps
• View all Guidance Documents and Training Videos, from intake to oversight
• Learn about the Office Whistleblower Liaison (OWL) initiative
• See these tools for secure intake and communications with whistleblowers

Case Consultations

The Office provides confidential consultations to support House staff in responding to whistleblowers. Commonly covered topics include:

• Guidance for conducting intake and maintaining confidentiality
• Which Law? (check out our menu of sector-specific fact sheets)
• Referrals for reporting misconduct and retaliation, including committees of jurisdiction
• Additional resources to share with whistleblowers

Technical Legislative Expertise

The Office provides technical expertise around whistleblower legislation, including tracking bills, providing technical feedback, and identifying bipartisan best practices.

• Legislation Tracker
• Best Practice Standards

House Requirements for Working With Whistleblowers

The House Code of Official Conduct includes requirements for working with whistleblowers. Some limitations and exceptions exist, and the Office is prepared to assist House offices with compliance.

• Clause 20 prohibits the House from engaging in retaliation against individuals because of truthful disclosures made to certain congressional offices or to law enforcement
• Clause 21 prohibits the House from publicly disclosing the identity of, or personally identifiable information about, an individual who has engaged in protected whistleblowing with Congress, without prior written consent

View Frequently Asked Questions