Whistleblower Question of the Week: What Was America’s First Whistleblower Law?

Posted July 30, 2025

By the Constantine Cannon Whistleblower Team

July 30^th is National Whistleblower Appreciation Day, honoring a historical moment from 1778 when the U.S. Continental Congress unanimously passed the nation’s first whistleblower law during the American Revolution. The Founding Fathers recognized the importance of whistleblowers and took meaningful steps to protect them. Their action laid the groundwork for future generations of whistleblowers to speak up against wrongdoing and misconduct. Even in a revolution, speaking truth to power matters.

The First U.S. Whistleblower Law

The first U.S. Whistleblower Law stated: “Resolved, that it is the duty of all persons of the United States, as well as all other inhabitants thereof, to give the earliest information to Congress or any other proper authority of any misconduct, frauds, or misdemeanors committed by any persons in the service of these States, which may come to their knowledge.”[1]

The Story Behind This Whistleblower Law: Ten Sailors Take a Stand

In 1777, ten sailors abord the USS Warren decided to report the misconduct of Commodore Esek Hopkins, Commander in Chief of the Continental Navy.[2] The sailors wrote a petition detailing Hopkins’s crimes including torture and mistreatment of British prisoners.

Hopkins retaliated against the sailors with a criminal libel suit. In response, Congress enacted legislation to protect the sailors, paving the way for future whistleblower protections in the United States.

Continental Congress Defends the Right to Speak Up

Even during wartime, Congress wanted to show its direct support for speaking truth to power. It passed legislation protecting whistleblowers and covered litigation costs for the sailors. Congress also released records to the public about Commodore Hopkins’s dismissal.[3]

How the Government Encourages Whistleblowers to Speak Up, Then and Now

From the founding era to the present, the U.S. government has encouraged whistleblowers to report fraud, waste, and abuse through an expanding array of whistleblower protection and reward laws and by celebrating whistleblowers.

National Whistleblower Appreciation Day was introduced by Senate resolution in 2013, championed by Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) and their bipartisan Senate Whistleblower Protection Caucus.

The IRS Whistleblower Office Celebrates National Whistleblower Appreciation Day

This year, ahead of National Whistleblower Appreciation Day, the Internal Revenue Service Whistleblower Office announced its celebration of the day and the role whistleblowers play in enforcing tax laws. Since issuing its first award in 2007, the IRS has paid more than $1.3 billion in awards based on the successful collection of $7.5 billion from bad actors.

Constantine Cannon Partner Gordon Schnell on Why This Day Matters

In a 2022 Star Tribune commentary, Constantine Cannon partner Gordon Schnell reflected on the importance of National Whistleblower Appreciation Day and why it deserves more attention than it usually receives.[4] As Schnell wrote, the day is not “just another made-up holiday to celebrate the peculiar passions or pastimes of a particularly fervent few.” Rather, it is a special day to honor whistleblowers and the critical role they play in safeguarding the public.

Types of Whistleblower Reward Laws and Programs

- The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Whistleblower Reward Program for cases involving violations of securities law.
- The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Whistleblower Reward Program for cases involving violations of the Commodity Exchange Act.
- As also mentioned above, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Whistleblower Reward Program for cases of tax fraud.
- The Anti-Money Laundering & Sanctions Whistleblower Program for whistleblower reporting on violations of U.S. sanctions laws or the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA), the primary anti-money laundering enforcement law.
- The DOJ Antitrust Whistleblower Rewards Program for criminal antitrust violations such as price-fixing, bid-rigging, and market allocation schemes.
- The DOJ Corporate Whistleblower Awards Pilot Program for cases involving financial fraud, healthcare fraud, or bribery/corruption, that are not covered by existing whistleblower programs.
- The Motor Vehicle Safety Whistleblower Act for whistleblowers reporting safety-related problems in vehicles.
- And more.

Our Firm Helps Whistleblowers

We applaud and appreciate whistleblowers by encouraging them to come forward with any information about fraud or misconduct. Constantine Cannon has extensive experience representing whistleblowers. Please contact us if you believe you have a case. We will connect you with an experienced member of the Constantine Cannon whistleblower team for a free and confidential consultation.