The U.S. Office of Special Counsel has resolved three related whistleblower retaliation cases alleging that Transportation Security Administration (TSA) supervisory employees were geographically reassigned after making disclosures related to airport operations and safety.

According to OSC, the employees (Sharlene Mata, Heather Callahan Chuck and Frank Abreau) worked as Deputy Federal Security Directors at TSA.  In these roles, they oversaw airport operations as part of TSA’s Office of Security Operations.  In early 2014, two employees reported mismanagement and lax airport security protocols to TSA leadership.  Shortly after, their subordinates raised concerns to TSA leadership about the efficiency and effectiveness of a regional restructuring plan. TSA faulted the supervisors for poor leadership and abruptly reassigned them from their Hawaii positions to roles in Washington and California.  Mata and Abreu, natives of Hawaii, were separated from their extended families by the involuntary moves. After several more reassignments, Callahan Chuck ultimately resigned from TSA.

The settlement agreement includes a compensatory damage payment of approximately $1 million to the three complainants.  It returns the complainants working in Washington and California to comparable positions in Hawaii.  TSA has also discontinued its discretionary

practice of widespread geographic reassignments, and worked to implement a comprehensive internal training program on whistleblower retaliation.