Executive Summary
- The GAO is reviewing DHS whistleblower complaint handling from 2017 to 2025.
- The inquiry was requested by Ranking Members Rep. Bennie Thompson and Sen. Gary Peters.
- DHS OIG validated only 0.35% of retaliation complaints compared to a federal average of 3-8%.
- The review seeks to evaluate how protections are communicated and enforced within the department.
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has initiated a comprehensive review of the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) processes for handling whistleblower reprisal complaints, covering a period spanning the administrations of President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden. According to a government email obtained by the Project On Government Oversight (POGO), the federal watchdog is seeking to interview individuals who filed complaints between October 1, 2017, and September 30, 2025, to assess the efficacy of the department’s internal protective measures.
A GAO spokesperson confirmed that the review was formally requested by Representative Bennie Thompson (D-MS) and Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), the ranking members of the House and Senate Homeland Security Committees, respectively. The investigation aims to gather firsthand perspectives on the investigation process and determine how whistleblower protections were communicated to staff. The GAO emphasized in its communications that it will not reassess individual cases but seeks to establish a contextual background to inform its systemic review.
The scrutiny follows statistical concerns regarding the validation of retaliation claims within the DHS. Data cited in a Washington Examiner opinion piece by former DHS contractors Barry Angeline and Dan McCabe indicates that from fiscal year 2019 to 2025, the DHS Office of Inspector General (OIG) reviewed 3,144 retaliation complaints but confirmed only 11, resulting in a validation rate of 0.35%. In contrast, other federal watchdogs typically corroborate between 3% and 8% of such cases. Additionally, the 2024 Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey revealed that only 66% of DHS employees felt they could disclose suspected legal violations without fear of reprisal, a figure below the government-wide average of 72%.
Regulatory Oversight
The launch of this GAO inquiry highlights the ongoing tension between federal oversight mechanisms and internal agency accountability. By examining the disparity in substantiated claims between the DHS OIG and comparable federal bodies, investigators are likely attempting to determine whether procedural bottlenecks or systemic cultural issues are suppressing legitimate disclosures. The findings of this review could lead to legislative recommendations aimed at strengthening protections for civil servants who report misconduct, thereby ensuring that the channels for internal accountability remain functional across changing administrations.
