Findings of Whistleblower Retaliation by CDC National Center for Injury Prevention and Control Grantee Management Official

The Special Investigations Branch (SIB) of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office of Inspector General (OIG), conducted an investigation in response to allegations brought forth by a complainant at the Tennessee Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence (Coalition), a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) grantee. The complainant alleged that, while working for the Coalition, under Domestic Violence Prevention Enhancement and Leadership Through Alliances (DELTA) program grants, the complainant’s supervisors and responsible management officials (RMOs), the Associate Director and Executive Director, terminated the complainant for making allegations that Federal grant laws were being repeatedly violated by the Coalition. Specifically, investigators found that the complainant made written and oral protected disclosures to the RMOs and a CDC employee alleging DELTA grant mismanagement. OIG investigators found that the RMOs terminated the complainant’s employment in retaliation for making protected disclosures. The OIG investigative report included recommendations for appropriate action and was provided to the Secretary of HHS, which may seek to implement alternative or additional actions as deemed appropriate.