June 19, 2020 3:20 a.m.

On Thursday, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden announced that he is co-sponsoring legislation that would ensure whistleblower protections for people who expose the misuse of government funds, intended to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

Wyden said “whistleblowers play a key role in sounding the alarm whenever there’s wrongdoing by scam artists and cheaters scheming to cover up their tracks”. Wyden said the bill extends whistleblower protections to non-federal employees who report waste, fraud, and abuse in coronavirus-related spending that’s diverted from its intended recipients such as frontline workers and small businesses who need those resources “during this economic and public health crisis”.

Wyden’s release said the legislation would:

*Institute strong whistleblower protections for employees or former employees of recipients of funds under the CARES Act or other similar legislation meant to address COVID-19.

*Protects disclosures related to relief funds that stand as evidence of gross mismanagement or waste, danger to public health or safety, abuse of authority, or violation of law, rule, or regulation.

*Create a legal framework that provides administrative relief in which the Department of Labor can investigate whistleblower retaliation claims.

*Protects whistleblower confidentiality and protects against gag orders.

The release said the bill is endorsed by the American Civil Liberties Union, Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, Taxpayers Protection Alliance, Whistleblowers of America and several other organizations.