Editing Project on Government Oversight (section)

=== Whistleblower protection ===
POGO, along with several other public interest groups, was involved in the investigation and trial of [[Scott Bloch]], ex-head of the U.S. [[Office of Special Counsel]] (OSC). Bloch was accused by former OSC employees of ignoring and dismissing hundreds of whistleblower complaints, removing language guaranteeing protection against sexual orientation discrimination from OSC's website and official documents, and "relocating" several of his own employees who came forward with these allegations.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pogoarchives.org/m/gp/gp-OSCcomplaint-03032005.pdf|title=Complaint of Prohibited Personnel Practices Against Special Counsel Scott Bloch|author=Adams & Katz, Esq|date=March 3, 2005|publisher=POGO|access-date=August 3, 2010}}</ref> When these accusations led to a congressional investigation of Bloch, Bloch allegedly hired a technology company to wipe the memory of his computer and several other OSC laptops in order to hide key evidence from the investigators. Bloch initially claimed that he ordered this as protection against a virus that had infected his computer, but he later admitted he was trying to withhold information.<ref>Wilke, John (November 28, 2007). [https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB119621772122306160?mod=hpp_us_whats_news "Head of Rove Inquiry in Hot Seat Himself."] [[The Wall Street Journal]]</ref> Bloch ultimately resigned his position as head of the OSC and pleaded guilty to withholding information from Congress.<ref>Jordan, Lara Jakes (October 21, 2008). [https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/20/AR2008102003561.html "U.S. Special Counsel Bloch to Resign"] ''The Washington Post''.</ref>

POGO has worked to protect the rights of several specific whistleblowers—including Franz Gayl, who criticized military leaders' decision to not deliver protective armored vehicles called [[MRAP]]s to troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, and Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Davis, who challenged military leaders' depictions of the "rosy" situation on the ground in Afghanistan—by sending letters to Congress and the agencies involved.<ref>Ukman, Jason (November 17, 2011). [https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/checkpoint-washington/post/a-whistleblower-gets-his-security-clearance-back/2011/11/17/gIQAWuJPUN_blog.html "Whistleblower Franz Gayl gets his job back"] ''The Washington Post''.</ref><ref>Davis, Lt. Col. Daniel. [http://armedforcesjournal.com/2012/02/8904030 "Truth, lies and Afghanistan"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120605111626/http://armedforcesjournal.com/2012/02/8904030 |date=2012-06-05 }} ''Armed Forces Journal''.</ref><ref>[http://www.pogo.org/pogo-files/letters/whistleblower-issues/wp-wi-20101119.html Solidarity Letter in Support of Whistleblower Franz Gayl] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120717095912/http://www.pogo.org/pogo-files/letters/whistleblower-issues/wp-wi-20101119.html |date=2012-07-17 }} Project on Government Oversight. November 19, 2010.</ref><ref>[http://www.pogo.org/pogo-files/letters/whistleblower-issues/wi-wp-20120217-afghanistan-allegations-whistleblower-daniel-davis.html POGO Calls for Hearings on Afghanistan Allegations from Whistleblower Lt. Col. Daniel Davis] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120717014432/http://www.pogo.org/pogo-files/letters/whistleblower-issues/wi-wp-20120217-afghanistan-allegations-whistleblower-daniel-davis.html |date=2012-07-17 }} Project on Government Oversight. February 17, 2012.</ref>