A federal employee who reports wrongdoing does so at some risk and, for most whistle-blowers, with some trepidation. Federal law is supposed to protect civil servants from reprisal for reporting wrongdoing, but most employees find little comfort with anti-retaliation laws, and for good reason. The result is less disclosure of wrongdoing and a more costly and inefficient government. Over time, court decisions and Merit Systems Protection Board opinions have diluted what it means to be a whistle-blower and when whistle-blowing is protected. At a minimum, the laws are complex and very fact-specific. The recent case of U.S. Park Police Chief…