Grants funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Section 1553 of Division A, Title XV of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, Public Law 111-5) have specific compliance and reporting requirements, described below. ARRA also protects employees of non-federal employers who disclose possible fraud, waste, and/or abuse of Recovery Act funds.

Whistleblower Protection

Who is protected?

Employees of non-federal employers receiving recovery funds. This includes State and local governments, contractors, subcontractors, grantees or professional membership organizations acting in the interest of recovery fund recipients.

How are whistleblowers protected?

You cannot be discharged, demoted or otherwise discriminated against as a reprisal for making a protected disclosure.

What types of disclosures are protected?

The disclosure must be made by the employee to the Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board, an Inspector General, the Comptroller General, a member of Congress, a state or federal regulatory or law enforcement agency, a person with supervisory authority over the employee, a court or grand jury, or the head of a federal agency or his/her representatives. The disclosure must involve information that the employee believes is evidence of:

• gross mismanagement of an agency contract or grant relating to recovery funds;
• a gross waste of recovery funds;
• a substantial and specific danger to public health or safety related to the implementation or use of recovery funds;
• an abuse of authority related to the implementation or use of recovery funds; or
• a violation of law, rule, or regulation related to an agency contract or grant awarded or issued relating to recovery funds.

For more information about your rights and details on how to report, see www.recovery.gov.