Bill giving whistle-blower protections to federal employees signed into law

President Barack Obama has signed into law the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act of 2012, which provides protection for whistle-blower federal employees. / Bloomberg

President Barack Obama has signed into law the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act of 2012, which provides protection for whistle-blower federal employees.

The act, which the president signed into law on Tuesday, includes provisions that amend the scope of protected disclosures, tightens requirements for nondisclosure agreements, expands the penalties imposed for violating whistle-blower protections, and establishes a Whistleblower Protection Ombudsman position in certain federal agencies.

The bill, S. 743, passed the House of Representatives in September and the Senate on Nov. 13, both times unanimously.

In a statement, the Washington-based Government Accountability Project said the law's enactment reflects a 13-year effort. “The legislation provides millions of federal workers with the rights they need to report government corruption and wrongdoing safely,” group said in the statement/

In October, President Obama issued a directive that provided whistle-blower protections to federal security agency employees, a provision that was not included in the act.