What term describes an employee who exposes unethical or illegal conduct within the federal government or its contractors?

• A. Whistleblower
• B. Informant
• C. Watchdog
• D. Snitch

Answer: (A)

Reporting unethical or illegal actions in the federal government or by its contractors is described as being a whistleblower. A whistleblower is someone who reveals misconduct through proper channels—such as internal offices, inspectors general, or Congress—and is often protected from retaliation by laws and regulations. This term specifically captures the act of bringing wrongdoing to light within a government context, with an emphasis on safeguarding the person who speaks up.

An informant is a more general label for someone who provides information to investigators, and not necessarily someone who exposes systemic or official misconduct within government. A watchdog usually refers to an entity or role that monitors for problems rather than a person who discloses misconduct. A snitch is a slang, pejorative term not used in formal or official contexts to describe someone who reports wrongdoing.