On July 30th, whistleblowers, whistleblower advocates, and government officials will gather on Capitol Hill for the U.S.’s annual National Whistleblower Day celebration. This year’s National Whistleblower Day marks the 248th anniversary of America’s first whistleblower law.
This year’s whistleblower speakers range from intelligence officers and law enforcement agents to corporate ethics champions and public safety experts, who will share their stories in exposing wrongdoing and advocating for transparency across U.S. and international sectors.
This year’s featured speakers include:
- Sarah Carver & Jennifer Griffith: Former Social Security Administration paralegals who exposed a massive $550 million fraud scheme. Enduring severe retaliation, their bravery earned them the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners’ Sentinel Award in 2024.
- Rosemary Dew: As one of the first hundred women to join the FBI and a former Supervisory Special Agent, Dew exposed systemic misconduct and cover-ups within federal law enforcement, becoming a powerful champion for whistleblowers.
- Thomas Drake: A former National Security Agency senior executive and decorated veteran who uncovered issues with the agency’s “Trailblazer” data-analysis program. He has been recognized with the Ridenhour Prize for Truth-Telling, the Sam Adams Award, and the Hugh M. Hefner First Amendment Award.
- Desiree Fixler: A corporate ethics leader and former DWS Head of Sustainability who exposed widespread greenwashing in Wall Street asset management, triggering an investigation that resulted in a historic $19 million sanction against DWS.
- John Kiriakou: A former CIA intelligence officer who became the first insider to publicly expose the U.S. government’s post-9/11 torture program. For his defense of civil liberties, Kiriakou has received the Joe A. Callaway Award for Civic Courage, the Sam Adams Award, and the PEN First Amendment Award.
- Will Kramer: A former occupational health and safety consultant whose disclosure of chemical hazards and workplace safety violations sparked a federal multi-agency investigation and millions in fines. Today, he draws on his own experience as a whistleblower attorney.
- Robert MacLean: A former Federal Air Marshal, Border Patrol agent, and Air Force veteran whose disclosure of TSA safety cutbacks led to a landmark 2015 Supreme Court victory, strengthening whistleblower protections nationwide.
- Toni Savage: A former Army Corps of Engineers contracting officer who exposed millions of dollars in government contracting fraud; she continues her advocacy today on the National Whistleblower Center’s Board of Directors.
- Jane Turner: A highly decorated, 25-year veteran FBI Special Agent who exposed the mishandling of child sex abuse cases and 9/11 property thefts. Turner has won historic legal victories for FBI whistleblowers, and continues her work with the NWC as a Board Director and the Chair of the Whistleblower Leadership Council.
The National Whistleblower Day 2026 celebration will be held on July 30th in the Kennedy Caucus Room on Capitol Hill. Additional speakers are to be announced.
