Final answer:
Federal employees who report agency wrongdoing are known as whistleblowers. They are protected under laws such as the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978, the Whistleblower Protection Act of 1989, and the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act of 2012. The correct answer is a) Whistleblowers.
Step-by-step explanation:
Federal employees who report wrongdoing within agencies are commonly known as whistleblowers. These individuals play a critical role in maintaining ethical standards and accountability within bureaucracies by exposing any misdeeds or corruption that they witness. The federal government has recognized the importance of these individuals and has enacted several laws to provide them with protection from retaliation.
Notable legislation that protects these employees includes the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978, which established the Merit Systems Protection Board to hear complaints and protect federal employees. Further strengthening these protections are the Whistleblower Protection Act of 1989 and the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act of 2012. These laws ensure that whistleblowers can safely report mismanagement, abuses, and illegal activities without fear of losing their jobs or other forms of reprisal. The correct answer is a) Whistleblowers.