The U.S. Coast Guard has launched an anti-retaliation campaign, the first of its kind in the uniformed services. The launch comes on the heels of a consolidated effort amongst several whistleblower advocacy groups who called on President Biden to end retaliation in the services, and specifically called for justice for USCG CDR Kim Young-McLear.
We were honored to be a signatory on the address to President Biden which you can read more about here.
The campaign is an encouraging sign in that the government is beginning to realize that its Whistleblower Reprisal Investigation system is dysfunctional and/or corrupt and that servicemembers no longer accept delayed and/or no justice/recompense when it comes to being the victims of reprisal and retaliation.
We will continue to monitor the USCG’s efforts and lobby that they are introduced into the DoD soon.
The aim of the address, sent in January to the President, was lock-in-step inline with this Foundation’s main goal: to rid the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security of systemic and unchecked retribution and reprisal.
“Despite the incredible contributions whistleblowers make, they are often retaliated against and left to cope with a lifetime of deleterious consequences and traumas from the accumulation of psychological, financial, and emotional toll — without closure. Make no mistake that this is abusive, and it is cruelty. Through our decades of advocacy, tragically, we know that these experiences are far too common. Given all that we benefit from the integrity of courageous whistleblowers who selflessly chose to report fraud, waste, abuse, and other wrongdoings, we must always continue to advocate for their safety, healing, justice, dignity. “
– NWC’s Letter to President Biden
