---
kind: "section"
citation: "5 U.S.C. § 1213"
title: "5"
title_heading: "Government Organization and Employees"
number: "1213"
heading: "Provisions relating to disclosures of violations of law, gross mismanagement, and certain other matters"
release: "119-102"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/5/1213"
units:
  - "Part II — Civil Service Functions and Responsibilities"
  - "Chapter 12 — Merit Systems Protection Board, Office of Special Counsel, and Employee Right of Action"
  - "Subchapter II — Office of Special Counsel"
---

# §1213. Provisions relating to disclosures of violations of law, gross mismanagement, and certain other matters

- (a) This section applies with respect to—
  - (1) any disclosure of information by an [employee](/usc/5/5361.md?p=1), former [employee](/usc/5/5361.md?p=1), or applicant for employment which the [employee](/usc/5/5361.md?p=1), former [employee](/usc/5/5361.md?p=1), or applicant reasonably believes evidences—
    - (A) a violation of any law, rule, or regulation; or
    - (B) gross mismanagement, a gross waste of funds, an abuse of [authority](/usc/5/7103.md?p=a-6), or a substantial and specific danger to public health or safety;

    if such disclosure is not specifically prohibited by law and if such information is not specifically required by Executive order to be kept secret in the interest of national defense or the conduct of foreign affairs; and

  - (2) any disclosure by an [employee](/usc/5/5361.md?p=1), former [employee](/usc/5/5361.md?p=1), or applicant for employment to the Special Counsel or to the Inspector General of an [agency](/usc/5/500.md?p=a-1) or another [employee](/usc/5/5361.md?p=1) designated by the head of the [agency](/usc/5/500.md?p=a-1) to receive such disclosures of information which the [employee](/usc/5/5361.md?p=1), former [employee](/usc/5/5361.md?p=1), or applicant reasonably believes evidences—
    - (A) a violation of any law, rule, or regulation; or
    - (B) gross mismanagement, a gross waste of funds, an abuse of [authority](/usc/5/7103.md?p=a-6), or a substantial and specific danger to public health or safety.
- (b) Whenever the Special Counsel receives information of a type described in [subsection (a)](#a) of this section, the Special Counsel shall review such information and, within 45 days after receiving the information, determine whether there is a substantial likelihood that the information discloses a violation of any law, rule, or regulation, or gross mismanagement, gross waste of funds, abuse of [authority](/usc/5/7103.md?p=a-6), or substantial and specific danger to public health and safety.
- (c)
  - (1) Subject to [paragraph (2)](#c-2), if the Special Counsel makes a positive determination under [subsection (b)](#b) of this section, the Special Counsel shall promptly transmit the information with respect to which the determination was made to the appropriate [agency](/usc/5/500.md?p=a-1) head and require that the [agency](/usc/5/500.md?p=a-1) head—
    - (A) conduct an investigation with respect to the information and any related matters transmitted by the Special Counsel to the [agency](/usc/5/500.md?p=a-1) head; and
    - (B) submit a written report setting forth the findings of the [agency](/usc/5/500.md?p=a-1) head within 60 days after the date on which the information is transmitted to the [agency](/usc/5/500.md?p=a-1) head or within any longer period of time agreed to in writing by the Special Counsel.
  - (2) The Special Counsel may require an [agency](/usc/5/500.md?p=a-1) head to conduct an investigation and submit a written report under [paragraph (1)](#c-1) only if the information was transmitted to the Special Counsel by—
    - (A) an [employee](/usc/5/5361.md?p=1), former [employee](/usc/5/5361.md?p=1), or applicant for employment in the [agency](/usc/5/500.md?p=a-1) which the information concerns; or
    - (B) an [employee](/usc/5/5361.md?p=1) who obtained the information in connection with the performance of the [employee](/usc/5/5361.md?p=1)’s duties and responsibilities.
- (d) Any report required under [subsection (c)](#c) shall be reviewed and signed by the head of the [agency](/usc/5/500.md?p=a-1) and shall include—
  - (1) a summary of the information with respect to which the investigation was initiated;
  - (2) a description of the conduct of the investigation;
  - (3) a summary of any evidence obtained from the investigation;
  - (4) a listing of any violation or apparent violation of any law, rule, or regulation; and
  - (5) a description of any action taken or planned as a result of the investigation, such as—
    - (A) changes in [agency](/usc/5/500.md?p=a-1) rules, regulations, or practices;
    - (B) the restoration of any aggrieved [employee](/usc/5/5361.md?p=1);
    - (C) disciplinary action against any [employee](/usc/5/5361.md?p=1); and
    - (D) referral to the Attorney General of any evidence of a criminal violation.
- (e)
  - (1) Any report required under [subsection (c)](#c) or paragraph (5) of this subsection shall be submitted to the Special Counsel, and the Special Counsel shall transmit a copy to the complainant, except as provided under [subsection (f)](#f) of this section. The complainant may submit comments to the Special Counsel on the [agency](/usc/5/500.md?p=a-1) report within 15 days of having received a copy of the report.
  - (2) Upon receipt of any report that the head of an [agency](/usc/5/500.md?p=a-1) is required to submit under [subsection (c)](#c), the Special Counsel shall review the report and determine whether—
    - (A) the findings of the head of the [agency](/usc/5/500.md?p=a-1) appear reasonable; and
    - (B) if the Special Counsel requires the head of the [agency](/usc/5/500.md?p=a-1) to submit a supplemental report under [paragraph (5)](#e-5), the reports submitted by the head of the [agency](/usc/5/500.md?p=a-1) collectively contain the information required under [subsection (d)](#d).
  - (3) The Special Counsel shall transmit any report submitted to the Special Counsel by the head of an [agency](/usc/5/500.md?p=a-1) under [subsection (c)](#c) or paragraph (5) of this subsection, any comments provided by the complainant pursuant to [subsection (e)(1)](#e-1), and any appropriate comments or recommendations by the Special Counsel to the President and the congressional committees with jurisdiction over the [agency](/usc/5/500.md?p=a-1) which the disclosure involves.
  - (4) Whenever the Special Counsel does not receive the report of the [agency](/usc/5/500.md?p=a-1) within the time prescribed in [subsection (c)(2)](#c-2) of this section, the Special Counsel shall transmit a copy of the information which was transmitted to the [agency](/usc/5/500.md?p=a-1) head to the President and the congressional committees with jurisdiction over the [agency](/usc/5/500.md?p=a-1) which the disclosure involves together with a statement noting the failure of the head of the [agency](/usc/5/500.md?p=a-1) to file the required report.
  - (5) If, after conducting a review of a report under [paragraph (2)](#e-2), the Special Counsel concludes that the Special Counsel requires additional information or documentation to determine whether the report submitted by the head of an [agency](/usc/5/500.md?p=a-1) is reasonable and sufficient, the Special Counsel may request that the head of the [agency](/usc/5/500.md?p=a-1) submit a supplemental report—
    - (A) containing the additional information or documentation identified by the Special Counsel; and
    - (B) that the head of the [agency](/usc/5/500.md?p=a-1) shall submit to the Special Counsel within a period of time specified by the Special Counsel.
- (f) In any case in which evidence of a criminal violation obtained by an [agency](/usc/5/500.md?p=a-1) in an investigation under [subsection (c)](#c) of this section is referred to the Attorney General—
  - (1) the report shall not be transmitted to the complainant; and
  - (2) the [agency](/usc/5/500.md?p=a-1) shall notify the Office of Personnel Management and the Office of Management and Budget of the referral.
- (g)
  - (1) If the Special Counsel receives information of a type described in [subsection (a)](#a) from an individual other than an individual described in subparagraph [(A)](#c-2-A) or [(B)](#c-2-B) of subsection (c)(2), the Special Counsel may transmit the information to the head of the [agency](/usc/5/500.md?p=a-1) which the information concerns. The head of such [agency](/usc/5/500.md?p=a-1) shall, within a reasonable time after the information is transmitted, inform the Special Counsel in writing of what action has been or is being taken and when such action shall be completed. The Special Counsel shall inform the individual of the report of the [agency](/usc/5/500.md?p=a-1) head.
  - (2) If the Special Counsel receives information of a type described in [subsection (a)](#a) from an individual described in subparagraph [(A)](#c-2-A) or [(B)](#c-2-B) of subsection (c)(2), but does not make a positive determination under [subsection (b)](#b), the Special Counsel may transmit the information to the head of the [agency](/usc/5/500.md?p=a-1) which the information concerns, except that the information may not be transmitted to the head of the [agency](/usc/5/500.md?p=a-1) without the consent of the individual. The head of such [agency](/usc/5/500.md?p=a-1) shall, within a reasonable time after the information is transmitted, inform the Special Counsel in writing of what action has been or is being taken and when such action will be completed. The Special Counsel shall inform the individual of the report of the [agency](/usc/5/500.md?p=a-1) head.
  - (3) If the Special Counsel does not transmit the information to the head of the [agency](/usc/5/500.md?p=a-1) under [paragraph (2)](#g-2), the Special Counsel shall inform the individual of—
    - (A) the reasons why the disclosure may not be further acted on under this chapter; and
    - (B) other offices available for receiving disclosures, should the individual wish to pursue the matter further.
- (h) The identity of any individual who makes a disclosure described in [subsection (a)](#a) may not be disclosed by the Special Counsel without such individual’s consent unless the Special Counsel determines that the disclosure of the individual’s identity is necessary because of an imminent danger to public health or safety or imminent violation of any criminal law.
- (i) Except as specifically authorized under this section, the provisions of this section shall not be considered to authorize disclosure of any information by any [agency](/usc/5/500.md?p=a-1) or any person which is—
  - (1) specifically prohibited from disclosure by any other provision of law; or
  - (2) specifically required by Executive order to be kept secret in the interest of national defense or the conduct of foreign affairs.
- (j) With respect to any disclosure of information described in [subsection (a)](#a) which involves foreign intelligence or counterintelligence information, if the disclosure is specifically prohibited by law or by Executive order, the Special Counsel shall transmit such information to the National Security Advisor, the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives, and the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 101–12, § 3(a)(13), Apr. 10, 1989, 103 Stat. 21; amended Pub. L. 104–316, title I, § 103(a), Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3828; Pub. L. 107–304, § 3, Nov. 27, 2002, 116 Stat. 2364; Pub. L. 115–91, div. A, title X, § 1097(c)(2), Dec. 12, 2017, 131 Stat. 1618.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2017—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 115–91, § 1097(c)(2)(A), substituted “45 days” for “15 days”.

Subsec. (e)(1). Pub. L. 115–91, § 1097(c)(2)(B)(i), substituted “Any report required under subsection (c) or paragraph (5) of this subsection” for “Any such report”.

Subsec. (e)(2). Pub. L. 115–91, § 1097(c)(2)(B)(ii), added par. (2) and struck out former par. (2) which related to review of any report of the head of an agency required under subsection (c).

Subsec. (e)(3). Pub. L. 115–91, § 1097(c)(2)(B)(iii), substituted “report submitted to the Special Counsel by the head of an agency under subsection (c) or paragraph (5) of this subsection” for “agency report received pursuant to subsection (c) of this section”.

Subsec. (e)(5). Pub. L. 115–91, § 1097(c)(2)(B)(iv), added par. (5).

2002—Subsec. (g)(1). Pub. L. 107–304, § 3(1), struck out at end “If the Special Counsel does not transmit the information to the head of the agency, the Special Counsel shall return any documents and other matter provided by the individual who made the disclosure.”

Subsec. (g)(3). Pub. L. 107–304, § 3(2), added par. (3) and struck out former par. (3) which read as follows: “If the Special Counsel does not transmit the information to the head of the agency under paragraph (2), the Special Counsel shall—

“(A) return any documents and other matter provided by the individual who made the disclosure; and

“(B) inform the individual of—

“(i) the reasons why the disclosure may not be further acted on under this chapter; and

“(ii) other offices available for receiving disclosures, should the individual wish to pursue the matter further.”

1996—Subsec. (e)(3). Pub. L. 104–316, § 103(a)(1), substituted “President and” for “President,” and struck out “, and the Comptroller General” before period at end.

Subsec. (e)(4). Pub. L. 104–316, § 103(a)(2), substituted “President and” for “President,” and struck out “, and the Comptroller General” before “together with a”.