A Quiet Act of Courage Whistleblower protections in the United States are built on the principle that federal employees must be free to report wrongdoing without fear of retaliation. The Whistleblower Protection Act of 1989 amended Title 5 of the U.S. Code to protect employees from retaliation for reporting legal violations, mismanagement, or fund misuse. These prohibitions are implemented through 5 U.S.C. § 2302, which bars retaliation through hiring, promotion, and other personnel actions.