Reformed National Security Internal Whistleblowing Systems and External Whistleblowing as Countervailing Ethics Methods

Abstract

This article (a) reviews parts of the general literature on internal and external whistleblowing, (b) reviews parts of the national security whistleblowing literature and context, (c) discusses theoretical and legal reasons for considering whistleblowing as a countervailing ethics method, (d) discusses problems with the current national security internal whistleblowing system, (e) proposes developmental changes and reforms, (f) considers why potential reforms might reduce the need for ethically and legally problematic external whistleblowing, and (g) concludes that if reforms are not made, which may be likely, then what the Founders of the U.S. Constitution referred to as “unauthorized disclosures [external whistleblowing]” and even strengthened First Amendment protections remain necessary.