S. 2968 would authorize appropriations for the Office of Special Counsel (OSC) for fiscal years 2016 through 2021. The bill also would amend several of the laws governing the OSC and would extend new legal protections to federal employees (known as whistleblowers) who report abuse, fraud, and waste related to government activities.
CBO estimates that implementing this legislation would cost $145 million over the 2017-2021 period, assuming appropriation of the necessary amounts. Enacting S. 2968 would not affect direct spending or revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply.
CBO estimates that enacting S. 2968 would not increase net direct spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2027.
S. 2968 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and would not affect the budgets of state, local, or tribal governments.
