Office of Special Counsel (OSC)

The Office of Special Counsel (OSC) is an investigative and prosecutorial agency whose basic legislative authority comes from four Federal statutes, the Civil Service Reform Act (CSRA), Whistleblower Protection Act (WBPA), Hatch Act, and the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA). The primary mission of the OSC is the safeguarding of the merit system in Federal employment by protecting employees and applicants from prohibited personnel practices. The agency also operates a secure channel for Federal whistleblower disclosures of violations of law, rule or regulation; gross mismanagement; gross waste of funds; abuse of authority; and substantial and specific danger to public health and safety.