A Closer Look at Presidential Policy Directive 19

Law360, New York (August 12, 2013, 1:24 PM ET) — On Oct. 10, 2012, President Obama issued Presidential Policy Directive 19 (PPD-19), entitled “Protecting Whistleblowers with Access to Classified Information.”  PPD-19 helps close the most significant gaps left after Congress’ passage of the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act (WPEA), Pub. L. No. 112-155, which President Obama signed into law on Nov. 27, 2012.

PPD-19 creates whistleblower protections for two traditionally vulnerable groups of federal workers: those within the intelligence community and those with access to classified information. Under PPD-19, intelligence workers are protected from various forms of retaliation including demotions, reassignments and termination. However, workers do not have a private cause of action to enforce their rights. Instead, they must need to rely on nonbinding recommendations from an external review panel.

A Closer Look at Presidential Policy Directive 19,” Law360 (August 12, 2013)