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The U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) is an independent federal investigative and prosecutorial agency. Our basic authorities come from four federal statutes: the Civil Service Reform Act, the Whistleblower Protection Act, the Hatch Act, and the Uniformed Services Employment & Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA).
OSC’s primary mission is to safeguard the merit system by protecting federal employees and applicants from prohibited personnel practices, especially reprisal for whistleblowing. The Office receives, investigates, and prosecutes allegations of PPPs, with an emphasis on protecting federal government whistleblowers. OSC seeks corrective action remedies (such as back pay and reinstatement), by negotiation or from the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB), for injuries suffered by whistleblowers and other complainants. OSC is also authorized to file complaints at the MSPB to seek disciplinary action against individuals who commit PPPs.
In addition, OSC also provides a secure channel for federal workers to disclose information about various workplace improprieties, including a violation of law, rule or regulation, gross mismanagement and waste of funds, abuse of authority, or a substantial danger to public health or safety; the Office further promotes compliance by government employees with legal restrictions on political activity by providing advisory opinions on, and enforcing, the Hatch Act; and finally, OSC protects the civilian employment and reemployment rights of military veterans and members of the Guard and Reserve by enforcing the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA).
The U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) has submitted a request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval of an extension of a currently approved information collection used to file complaints and disclosures with OSC (Form OSC-14/dynamic electronic form). In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, OSC is...
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. chapter 35), the U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval the following information collection: OSC's Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Program Survey. The currently approved information collection...
The U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) is seeking approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for the proposed extension of a currently approved information collection used to file complaints and disclosures with OSC (Form OSC-14/dynamic electronic form). OMB first approved OSC's dynamic electronic filing form on September 18,...
In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 4314(c)(4), the U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) announces the appointment of members to the agency's Senior Executive Service (SES) Performance Review Board (PRB). The PRB is responsible for reviewing and evaluating the initial appraisal of a senior executive's performance by the supervisor, along with any...
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. chapter 35), the U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) is seeking public comment on an extension of a currently approved information collection activity for its Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Program, approved under OMB Control Number 3255-0008. OSC has revised its survey...
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) has submitted a request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to reinstate a previously approved information collection that has expired. This notice provides the public an opportunity to comment during a 30-day period before OMB makes a final...
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) is submitting the following information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. OSC is also seeking public comment on this collection from all interested individuals and organizations. The purpose of...
The U.S. Office of Special Counsel is issuing this technical amendment to correct a statutory citation in its regulation governing the filing of complaints of prohibited personnel practices and other prohibited activities.
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the U.S. Office of Special Counsel is seeking public comment on an extension of a currently approved information collection activity for its Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Program. The ADR Survey is distributed to participants following the conclusion of their ADR process and is used...
The U.S. Office of Special Counsel is seeking approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for the reinstatement of an expired information collection request (ICR) under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). OSC is statutorily required to conduct an annual survey assessing the effectiveness of its operations, including the handling of...