Whistleblower stifled, and TSP waste

A Reader Writes:

I am being retaliated against for blowing the whistle on my boss for giving away company equipment. I have been written up three times. Is there anyone in the Dallas area that I can contact to help me out with this problem?

Milt Replies:

The U.S. Office of Special Counsel has a field office in Dallas. The OSC's primary mission is to safeguard the merit system by protecting federal employees and applicants from prohibited personnel practices, especially reprisal for whistleblowing.

The OSC also serves as a safe channel for federal workers who wish to disclose violations of laws, gross mismanagement or waste of funds, abuse of authority, and specific dangers to public health and safety.

Information about all of OSC's functions, including how to file a complaint, can be found on its Web site (www.osc.gov).

The Dallas field office's contact information is as follows:

U.S. Office of Special Counsel
1100 Commerce Street, Room 7C30
Dallas, Texas 75242-1027
Telephone: (214) 767-8871
Fax: (214) 767-2764

A Reader Writes:

What avenue of redress would an employee have against the Thrift Savings Plan board and executive director for waste of the TSP members' money when trying to establish a computer system that most modern investment companies have had for years?

Milt Replies:

I don't think you have much recourse. I suspect that the board can easily claim that the contractor (both the original one and the current one) are to blame and that the board is doing all it can to safeguard taxpayer funds.

When is the last time a government agency was taken to task in the courts for not doing a good job of safeguarding taxpayer funds? Of course, there is always a first time, and it would be interesting to see what would happen if someone took the TSP Board to court. If that's what you're planning, make sure you have a good attorney

A Reader Writes:

In your opinion, what agency has done the very best job communicating to its own employees about its A-76 competitive outsourcing and how it will affect them? I would like to contact such an agency to see how it communicated, what worked, what did not, etc.

Milt Replies:

I am afraid I can't answer your question. Perhaps other readers can help. If anyone would like to share their opinion or experience in regard to this question, please use the "Ask Milt" form. I'll include pertinent responses in an upcoming column.

Zall is a retired federal employee who since 1987 has written the Bureaucratus column for Federal Computer Week. He can be reached at milt.zall@verizon.net.