TSA Whistle-Blowers Gain Access to Merit Systems Protection Board

But Akaka also said the agreement "does not go far enough" and noted that the TSA "can pull out of this agreement at any time." He added that he was concerned about "the lack of detail" in the agreement.

Agency officials said that details about rights and procedures will be worked out in coming weeks and that the agreement with the Office of Special Counsel also will be modified to take into account the TSA's new commitment to whistle-blower rights.

The Office of Special Counsel said it received 25 complaints from TSA screeners involving whistle-blower retaliation in fiscal 2006 and received 24 such complaints in fiscal 2007. With the agreement with the merit board, some officials yesterday predicted that more screeners may file complaints.

Retirements

The government loses 67 years of experience tomorrow. Charles J. Brett and Barbara A. Brett, who are married, are retiring.

Charles Brett, chief of the records and information management branch at the Treasury Department's financial management service, will retire with 37 years of federal service. He began his career at the Housing and Urban Development Department and also worked at the Commerce Department. Before joining Treasury, he worked for almost 14 years at the National Archives teaching records-management classes.

Barbara Brett is an archivist at the National Archives who works in the initial processing and declassification division. She began her career as an accounting technician with the Defense Department in Boston and also worked for the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. She retires with 30 years of federal service.

Stephen Barr's e-mail address isbarrs@washpost.com.