Championing Responsible National Security Policy
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Analysis

Intelligence Community Encouraging Speaking Truth to Power

According to the Federation of American Scientists, the White House announced an addition to the National Intelligence Professional Awards program to recognize and reinforce the value of reporting wrongdoing in the Intelligence Community (IC).

The Project On Government Oversight (POGO) has long advocated for the recognition of whistleblowers and the creation of incentives for them to come forward. We are encouraged by the creation of this new award program and by the IC’s commitment to encourage whistleblowers.

The awards program was announced in the government’s self-assessment of its Third Open Government National Action Plan as part of an initiative to increase access to information. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence will encourage whistleblowers to use authorized channels to report their concerns of potential misconduct and will “use the National Intelligence Award program to recognize that activity.”

It is high time that IC whistleblowers received recognition for their bravery in reporting wrongdoing.