House committee releases report on FDA’s “highly invasive” surveillance of employees

The United States House of Representatives oversight and government reform committee and the Senate judiciary committee issued a committee report on Wednesday, February 26 regarding the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) utilizing a stringent monitoring program on its employees who had talked to Congress and the media, calling the process “highly invasive.”

House committee chairman Darrell Issa (Republican of California) and Senate judiciary committee ranking member Chuck Grassley (Republican of Iowa) said they found evidence that this surveillance was not sanctioned and that whistle blowers were not given proper protections.

Grassley said legally protected communications channels are safe from snooping and that “three whistle blowers thought the FDA was caving to pressure from the companies that were applying for FDA approval of whom two were fired, two more were forced to leave the FDA, and five were subjected to an intense spying campaign.”

Employees and workers have legally protected rights under state and federal law. As such, employers who violate these rights can and should be legally held liable. Seek the legal help our attorneys at The Melton Law Firm if you live in Austin and have been unfairly treated at work. You can reach us at 512-330-0017.