FAA Whistleblowers: We're Being Punished

Two FAA Workers Say They've Lost Out On Promotions After Capitol Hill Testimony

(CBS)  Two Federal Aviation Authority whistleblowers said they're being punished for raising safety concerns, even as they won awards for their courage Wednesday.

"I'm shackled to my desk pushing paperwork," said FAA inspector Bobby Boutris. "I have not seen an airplane for six months."

When Boutris and fellow inspector Doug Peters sounded the alarm about improper safety inspections at Southwest Airlines, it led to hundreds of grounded planes, thousands of cancelled flights and an unprecedented crackdown on airline maintenance.

But since they testified on Capitol Hill, the two men said they've lost out on promotions and been excluded from important safety decisions, reports CBS News correspondent Nancy Cordes.

"Does it make you regret coming forward?" asked Peters. "Absolutely not. I mean there are pressures involved with basically turning in your own agency, but I'm here for the flying public."

What's even more stunning, according to federal investigators, is the number of FAA employees who have followed his lead.

"We have seen a surge in whistleblower disclosures from FAA employees who see wrongdoing and come forward to report it," said Jim Mitchell of the U.S. Office of Special Counsel.

There have been 32 disclosures so far in 2008, compared to just 11 in all of 2007.

Complaints range from shoddy inspections to unreported air traffic control mistakes, and include more charges that the FAA punishes employees who speak up.

According to Mitchell, some agency employees have complained of being demoted or moved to different jobs.

FAA officials maintain the agency is working to promote a "culture of safety," while vowing to "take action against anyone who acts inappropriately toward whistleblowers."

[randynason]

Even though these whistleblowers are often demoted or transfered, they persist in doing the right thing. That, in my book, is admirable, shows integrity and real guts.

[incog-nito]

RandyNason: It also shows that the FAA continues to protect the airline industry over the safety of the flying public, and to punish people for speaking out.

[rebelscout]

If we had more people like these in the goverment we wouldn''t be as messed up as we are!

[rebelscout]

Maybe Bush wanted plane''s to crash so he could then swoop in and "save" us.

[nothappyatall]

What makes them so SURE they even HAD promotions coming at all??
Kind of kocky self-assured eh?

[payasyougo]

With the such a quality organization running the FAA I can''t wait for national healthcare. If they spent more time addressing current problems than whining about needing more funding than they clearly appear to need, we might not hear from the whistleblowers.

[lf1952]

There is still no evidence that the missed inspections impaired safety in any way, nor that they uncovered any problems when they were done. Bottom line - thousands of people were caused a lot of misery for nothing.
Not to mention that travelers will pay for the money lost while the aircraft were grounded

[rudy654-2009]

Posted by payasyougo at 08:49 PM

Corruption is from the top down. We know where and who the corruption is. This is the spirit that has entered an administration that has no tolerance for the truth.

[jumkey]

Hmmm...let''s see.

I seem to remember our local collection of wingnuts accused me and others of irrational crazy Bush bashing when I suggested EXACTLY this scenario was occurring when these allegations first came out.

My argument was Bush didn''t give a *** about airplane safety or the American public and had politicized the federal government so that even regulatory functions were being completely ignored.

Not that this was hard to figure out, or outside the range of clearly observable reality. It is in fact SOP for Republicans everywhere: insist government can''t work, actively work to make it fail and then screech like and holler when they cause the failure and say "see! we told you so!".

Unfortunately (and not unexpectedly) in this case they were willing to let planes crash and Americans die to achieve their political goals - much like they have allowed Bin Laden and the terrorists to remain free so to maintain their fake "war on terror".

As long as Republicans remain in any positions of power Americans will be in danger.

[fstop100]

They don''t want honest people in government.

[jumkey]

There is still no evidence that the missed inspections impaired safety in any way.

Posted by lf1952

Airline maintenance before the Republicans took over was specific and well regulated, designed to save lives - not stuff the pockets of the airlines. They politicized the process at the expense of our safety.

The "evidence" that maintenance hadn''t occurred as required by law would be a smoking hole in the ground and several hundred dead Americans.

But something tells me that if this were to have happened you''d be right here arguing why inspections wouldn''t have made any difference.

[soshljustic]

Workplace culture of many government agencies is of a pork barrel mentality, tax payer funded, and one of the largest employers with wonderful pensions not available in the private domain. Surprisingly there existed a ethical employee, or couple of them within the corporate culture of taxes paid pork. Most oinkers have sold out their ethics for vulgar greed and corporate lolly-gagging desk jobs. Could be that is why he was given a desk job, he thinks is a demotion from doing the job, whereas the pork barrel sees it as a promotion to doing nothing much and getting paid well for it. My bet is he has not acclamated himself to the desk. Once he has, it is amazing the amount of displaced and missing ethics and morals a employee can find on paper. He might actually be more valued working with paper trails.

[cbsblogger]

If we had more people like these in the goverment we wouldn''''t be as messed up as we are!

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Posted by rebelscout at 08:14 PM : Jun 11, 2008


But we need far less of Bush''s ilk whose primary and only intent are not to make the USA better, but to gain political power and add personal wealth to those of similar political ideology. Their intended mission is always 100% partisan and minus (-100%) in conscientious. Up until Bush and Cheney entered the picture I thought it was impossible for any political candidate to be so corrupt and self serving and destructive to our US culture.

Who gave Pelosi the authority to take impeachment off the table?

[scratch0058]

And this at the same time airlines are cutting corners even further. Safety has taken a back seat to profit. I''m a pilot and I will NOT step aboard a commercial airplane.

[soshljustic]

Another unfortunate lack of foresight on the part of the "whistle blower" is the savings he has provided the company and industry from potential lawsuits,since a good portion of the public knows we now need agencies to oversee other agencies, to make sure everyone is doing what they are supposed to be doing and not just marking time to collect a paycheck. Someone actually needs to follow policies and procedures, which creates many layers of bureacracy in our democracy of whomever can do the least while owning the most toys is determined somewhat successful.

[ioweign]

There is still no evidence that the missed inspections impaired safety in any way, nor that they uncovered any problems when they were done. Bottom line - thousands of people were caused a lot of misery for nothing.
Not to mention that travelers will pay for the money lost while the aircraft were grounded

Posted by lf1952 at 08:58 PM : Jun 11, 2008



What an "air" head !

Then why are preventative maintenance routes developed by the aircraft manufacturers if they don''t need to be performed.

[ioweign]

If we had more people like these in the goverment we wouldn''t be as messed up as we are!

Posted by rebelscout at 08:14 PM : Jun 11, 2008

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We had them... in 2000

Posted by Nancy_Naive at 08:29 PM : Jun 11, 2008


That''s the truth...

[memerider]

I spent many years in government, and the vast majority of workers were actually cream of the crop and dedicated to the public missions they represented.

Then there were always a few of the deadwood, or people who lacked skills or cognitive abilities who got promotions by either grieving, being there when personnel shortages resulted in their promotion, etc.

But, overall, I found government workers to be dedicated and of the highest quality. On the other hand, they are attacked for small human errors, and there is a tendency to keep errors hush-hush because congress, the press, the president, and the people can be like ravaging dogs at the slightest hint of a mistake.

It''s a tough situation.

[mcv57]

It is worst than you think. I was civil service (working for the U.S. Naval Shipyard). I was an automotive worker/ technician working at the Portmouth, VA facility. I tried to whistleblow on other civil service workers and supervisors who deceived the system into thinking they actually worked. In reality, they created their own work order for repairing government vehicles, and for overtime the civil service worker sat around cleaning their nails.

I tried exposing them to the Norfolk Security Bldg people, but they invited the Union to help can me for whisleblowing. The military and the civil service organizations are so corrupt local attorneys are over-worked, and they hardly win a legal case (if it is even heard - judicial corruption).

[mcv57]

... no such thing as a honest day''s work. American Corporate and Military Organizations are saturated in corruption. You literally have to be a lying cheat to keep a government or corporate job these days.

[cockapoo10]

Its like that in military intelligence too. People think they spend billions and billions of dollars to help protect this country. But in reality, its all this vacation. The people I worked with did their knitting.

[cyberus-2009]

Of course they''re being targeted ... thats why they passed the whistle blower laws .. the laws that require that people that the law is supposed to protect be wealthy enough to file a lawsuit since no one within the Gov''t will do anything for fear of becoming a target themselves.

[gce65]

Where''s the story on the Kucinich articles of Impeachment against Bush? We want the details!

[alphaa10-2009]

The Bush trademark is deceit-- the empty posturing, broken promise, the half-truth, and untruth.

Isn''t it perfectly logical a Bush-selected FAA administrator declares open season on those still willing to tell the truth?

Only the CBO, GAO and a few others are left to keep the players honest.

[alphaa10-2009]

Poster Jumkey points out, "It is in fact SOP for Republicans everywhere (to) insist government can''t work, actively work to make it fail and then screech like and holler when they cause the failure and say "see! we told you so!".

As if for Bush to say, "We are the scoundrels we have been warning you about!" Or, "Elect us, and we''ll prove what our political opponents are saying about us is TRUE!"

American conservatives were left in awe by FDR, and what a capable executive could accomplish, who also believed in what government can do to help people help themselves.

FDR''s powerful demonstration of success against the gravest domestic and international challenges of the century completely undercut the conservative rhetoric against governmnent.

For decades, conservatives had nothing comparable to offer or say. It fell on Bush, the Texas ANG dropout, to fly his kamikaze mission to trash the federal system wherever he could.

[creeper00]

These guys are lucky missed promotions were all they suffered. Bushco threw Don Siegelman in prison.

[samrensho]

GOP doesn''t like whistle blowers. Better to crash a few planes than sacrifice profits.

[ramos937]

Immediately post 1/21/2009, the Obama Justice Department should investigate if this is true. If true, certain FAA folks need to go to jail.

[oneworldusa]

"Whistleblowers" need some protection from identification. Then, the companies can''t turn on them. We need to encourage more people to speak up, without retribution, especially when it comes to public safety.

[patriot12436]

gce65
Polanski made a stattement saying bush would not be impeached and that was the last that i heard about it

[patriot12436]

Rhese guys were lucky. Remember Karen Silkwood in Oklahoma several years ago, she was going to a meeting with evidence against the atomic energy commission and was killed in a weird auto crash, the evidence was not found in her car, case closed.

[naucoming4u]

When you expose the crime and corruption of the biggest, most dangerous entity to humanity...

...(no Al Qaeda, not the mafia)...

...our U.S. government...

...then you can bet your life will change dramatically, and certainly not for the good.

[patriot12436]

cbsblogger
I think bush gave polosi the power.

[mcvet]

No one but no one likes a snitch. Not CEO''''s, not Presidents, no one. They can not be trusted. As a nation we have lost the ability to trust and/or be trusted. Would you like to work next to someone that is going to stab you in the back? Snitching says far more about the person giving the information than it does about the evidence being presented. Without a person''''s word carrying weight of honor and integrity the evidence is worthless. Without evidence you have no case in court. The last thing a whistle blower wants is to face his accused in a court of law and in this country it is a matter of course. You must be able to face your accuser.


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Posted by maxify55 at 07:01 AM : Jun 12, 2008
+ report abuse

SIEG HEIL!! That''s the ONLY response I can think of here! THIS IS NOT a Corporation you pathetic NAZI! This is a branch of the Government... YOU KNOW WE THE PEOPLE??? This is about people who are put there by WE THE PEOPLE to look after our safety. THEY came before a body of the Government of WE the PEOPLE and informed us of the INCOMPETENCE of a Government WE the PEOPLE elected. Does ANY of this ring a bell for you or did you miss ALL those history classes attending those Nazi Youth meetings??? Now stand... let everyone know you care MUCH more for the "Party" than you do WE the PEOPLE!! Sing it out!! SIEG HEIL BUSH!! Dumb as a box of rocks!!

[patriot12436]

Hi McVet
Haven''t talked to you in a while. How are you doing ?Remember i had to switch from ranger12436.

[armydog2]

There is a federal law that is supposed to protect whistleblowers from retaliation. this becomes an eeo complaint and if pursued will end with the top officials being fired or demoted. These guys deserve an atta boy for putting public safety above the bottom line. It was the right thing to do.

[dobbershome]

You know these people will never be promoted and will be treated like cow dung by upper managament. It makes me wonder about flying anymore.

[mick7744]

No one but no one likes a snitch. Not CEO''''''''s, not Presidents, no one. They can not be trusted. As a nation we have lost the ability to trust and/or be trusted
Posted by maxify55

Yeah...if it hadn''t been for those lousy whistle blowers, we''d all still be abble to trust our airlines and the FAA.

Now...thanks to those treacherous squealers,nobody in their right mind would trust them.

It''s bad enough to have to pay today''s fares inflated by fuel costs without having to worry about airlines saving a few bucks by cutting corners on maintinance.

WHY COULDN''T THEY JUST KEEP THEIR MOUTHS SHUT?

[gopsoccermom]

Let this be a lesson to all future potential whistleblowers. Your actions will not be tolerated in Jesusland! The wrath of the Lord will come down upon your head if you speaketh up!

[lib_crusher]

SIEG HEIL!! That''''s the ONLY response I can think of here!

Posted by MCVet at 07:09 AM : Jun 12, 2008

What a surprise!

[floydzeppl]

What a hoot to see all the RepubliBumpkins defending cover-ups of safety violations by the Bush FAA.

They love Bush so much that they''d support him to the bitter end even if he was raping 12-year-old girls on Christian Compounds in Texas.

[gopsoccermom]

Floydzeppl, that would not be considered rape.

[floydzeppl]

The blog trolls are out too. What a hoot.

[lib_crusher]

The blog trolls are out too. What a hoot.

Posted by Floydzeppl at 08:59 AM : Jun 12, 2008

Here''s one!

[jn122736]

It is a fact that all government agencies instituted to enforce rules/laws passed by congress, are under the control of each presiding administration department (in this case the Bush administration)?

This control is always passed on to each succeeding administration, which in turn replaces the heads of each department to manage according to the desires/policies of the president and his administration.

A corrupt administration%u2019s integrity, or lack of, can, and usually does, permeate every department under its control.

The president may, and almost always does, nominate new heads of departments, which are then approved or disapproved by Congress.
In the past this has kept things more or less under control.

During the first 6 years of this administration, the same party controlled both houses of congress. Any and all appointees Bush made were simply rubberstamped.

However, corporations have taken over congress, thanks mostly to the exorbitant costs of campaign financing today, to the point they no longer regulate or control.

We have almost reached the point of no return in this matter. The only way we, as voters, can, peacefully, effect any change is to vote in a democratic president and democratic majority in the senate this year, and then remove any congressperson, of any party, up for election in 2010 who does not follow the wishes of the people and do their sworn duty.

IMO it%u2019s the best, and maybe last, chance left.

[darnedsocks]

WHAT THE F IS THE POINT OF HAVING AN FAA IF THEIR EMPLOYEES AREN''T ALLOWED TO DO THEIR JOBS? WHOMEVER IS IN CHARGE OF THE FAA, OUGHT TO BE FIRED! SOUNDS LIKE THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS. IF THE FAA ITSELF IS NOT GOING TO ACTIVELY PROMOTE PUBLIC AIRLINE SAFETY, THEN IT NEEDS TO BE DISBANDED ALTOGETHER.

[lib_crusher]

WHOMEVER IS IN CHARGE OF THE FAA, OUGHT TO BE FIRED!

Posted by darnedsocks at 09:12 AM : Jun 12, 2008

Harry Reid

[gopsoccermom]

How do you people expect the FAA to be filled with unqualified cronies if we expect them to be competant? Huh? Explain that one to me liberals!

[singingrick]

This is what happens when honest government employees step forward to expose corruption. It all starts at the top with the Bush administration.

[libloser]

gopsoccermom you''re a phony and a liar!! d.amn liberal!!