A recent poll jointly administered by the National Whistleblower Center and Government Accountability Project measures the American public’s opinions on whistleblower protections. Conducted by YouGov, the poll gauges how Americans view the role played by whistleblowers in exposing wrongdoing. The results of the poll show that support for whistleblower protections matters strongly to the American public.
The survey reveals that 68% of registered voters favor federal employee whistleblowers having the same access to court and jury trials that government employees and contractors have to defend against free-speech retaliation, while only 5% oppose this. The survey also shows that 86% of registered voters believe passing stronger laws that protect whistleblowers should be a priority for Congress, a statistic that has gone up from 81% since 2020. Lastly, 64% of voters claim to be more likely to vote for a Congressional candidate who supports strengthening laws that protect employees who report fraud, up from 44% since 2020.
“These results demonstrate beyond a reasonable doubt that providing effective protections for whistleblowers are of urgent concern to the overwhelming majority of the American public,” said Stephen Kohn, Founder and Chairman of the Board at the National Whistleblower Center. “This is an urgent message to hold corporations and the government accountable for corruption.”
Support for whistleblower protections may also have implications for the upcoming 2026 midterm elections, as voters continue to consider candidates. The poll’s results play a vital role in shaping candidates’ understanding of public opinion on whistleblowing. As major issues such as rising corruption in federal government and the dangerous impacts of Artificial Intelligence are on American’s minds, politicians’ support for whistleblowers will be critical to tackling these challenges.
“These findings confirmed an overwhelming mandate for Congress to rebuild America’s whistleblower laws, which have been ravaged for federal employees and workers around the country,” said Maya Efrati, Director of Legislation and Congressional Affairs at Government Accountability Project. “The public knows that whistleblowers are America’s best defense against government fraud, waste, and abuse. It’s time for the legislators to listen.”