Press Release: “Whistleblower Reprisal Investigation: Navy Cyberwarfare Development Group Fort Meade, Maryland” (Report No. DODIG 2025 005)

Inspector General Robert P. Storch announced today that the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General (DoD OIG) released the report, "Whistleblower Reprisal Investigation: Navy Cyberwarfare Development Group, Fort Meade, Maryland." The DoD OIG substantiated the allegation of reprisal in this case.

The DoD OIG conducted a whistleblower reprisal investigation in response to a complaint alleging that a Navy official recommended the revocation of the complainant's eligibility to access classified information in reprisal for the complainant making protected disclosures. The complainant alleged that he made one of the protected disclosures to the Navy official during a meeting in which he reported that the Navy official inaccurately represented a mission-readiness status. The complainant also alleged in two different disclosures that the Navy official abused her discretion in taking actions against the complainant.

The DoD OIG determined that the first disclosure was not protected because there was not a reasonable belief supporting it, but that the complainant's two abuse of allegations disclosures were protected. We also found that, following these disclosures, there was not clear and convincing evidence to support a conclusion that the Navy official would have taken the action that affected the complainant's eligibility to access classified information absent the complainant's protected disclosures. Factors in reaching this decision included inaccuracies in the Navy official's recommendation to revoke the complainant's eligibility to access classified information and her motive to reprise against the complainant for his protected communications.

"Individuals must be free to come forward to make protected disclosures without fear of reprisal," said IG Storch. "A culture in which a DoD official uses a security clearance action as a weapon to silence those who report alleged wrongdoing is antithetical to this core principle. Whistleblowers should be commended for coming forward, not punished."

The DoD Consolidated Adjudications Facility initially revoked the complainant's eligibility for access to classified information, but restored his access after it received the complainant's rebuttal to the Navy official's recommendation to revoke. Therefore the OIG did not recommend any corrective action.

The Navy official is retired but remains subject to potential disciplinary action. The DoD OIG therefore recommended that the Secretary of the Navy consider appropriate disciplinary action.