The federal Whistleblower Protection Act of 1989 protects federal employees from retaliation for disclosing violations of law, gross mismanagement of public funds, abuse of authority or a substantial danger to public health or safety. But, since 1994, judicial interpretation of the WPA has made it hard for whistleblowers to win, and in May 2007, a Labor Department ruling cast doubt on whether there would be any protection at all for environmental whistleblowing related to clean water, toxic substances, or hazardous waste. The House of Representatives, however, passed H.R. 985, the “Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act” called by one supporter “the most significant breakthrough for whistleblower rights in history.” In part, this legislation would change the result of a case such as Garcetti v. Ceballos.

Internet Assignment: Find out if a law has been passed by both houses and signed by the president to expand the protection of federal workers who blow the whistle. If so, what does it do to strengthen their rights?