July 30 is National Whistleblower Appreciation Day—a day our nation celebrates the brave individuals who step forward to report fraud, corruption, and other wrongdoing in government programs, sometimes at great personal risk. Their contributions have helped to root out fraud and restore integrity in government programs. Fighting fraud and ensuring integrity in U.S. Department of Education programs and operations is part of our mission here at the Office of Inspector General. So this is the perfect time to talk about whistleblowers, whistleblower reprisal, and whistleblower protections involving Federal education programs and the role of the OIG in those efforts. 

Our guests:

Nicole Gardner, Special Agent in Charge of Headquarters Operations in the OIG’s Investigation Services component.

Antigone Potamianos, Counsel to the Inspector General and a member of the OIG’s senior leadership team. 

Have more questions about whistleblower protections? Learn more here:
https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/oig/hotlinewb.html

Suspect fraud, waste, abuse, mismanagement, or violations of laws and regulations involving ED funds or programs? Report it to our Hotline! This includes allegations of suspected wrongdoing by ED employees, contractors, grantees, schools and school officials, persons in positions of trust involving ED funds or programs, collection agencies, recipients of student financial assistance, or lending institutions. If you have knowledge of any wrongdoing involving ED funds or operations, let us know!
https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/oig/hotline.html