The Office Of Special Counsel Steps In To Defend Marine Whistleblowers

The Office of Special Counsel is coming to the defense of two federal whistleblowers. Franz Gayl, a science and technology advisor to the Marines, blew the whistle on the Marine Corps for failing to provide Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles to troops in Iraq. Paul Hardy, a regulatory review officer for the Public Health Service, led a team of scientists who found radiation exposure problems with a breast cancer screening device. When the FDA planned to approve it over his team's recommendations, Hardy went to the media with his findings. Both men were indefinitely suspended without pay. OSC filed with the Merit Systems Protection Board to have them reinstated. Special Counsel Carolyn Lerner said in a statement the men raised important safety concerns and issues of law.