By Megan Scudellari

In December, after more than a decade of negotiations and hearings, both houses of the US Congress unanimously passed a bipartisan bill aimed at providing legal safeguards for federal employees who disclose alleged wrongdoing occurring in government. The bill, called the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act, seemed poised to be signed into law. But late in the afternoon on the final day of the congressional session, an anonymous Republican senator thwarted the antisecrecy reform by placing a secret ‘hold’ on the bill, which effectively killed the measure.

Now, with a new Congress in session, the bill—which, for the first time, included specific protections for federal scientists—must be reintroduced for a new round of voting and potential roadblocks. And, until it passes, federal scientists preparing to report abuse, waste or fraud in the government may be better off holding their tongues, experts say.

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Image: Steven Depolo, Flickr