JAWS Joins Coalition Urging VA to End Investigations into Employees for Speaking to Press
MAY 12, 2026: The Society of Professional Journalists, joined by a coalition of more than 20 press freedom, journalism and civil liberties organizations, including Journalism & Women Symposium (JAWS), sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Douglas A. Collins urging the Department of Veterans Affairs to end investigations into employees for speaking with the press in their personal capacities. The coalition also calls on the VA to review and revise any policies or practices that restrict such protected speech.
The letter raises concern over reported VA investigations into employees who attended public vigils and spoke with journalists about matters of public interest, including comments related to the death of VA employee Alex Pretti. The coalition argues that disciplining employees for engaging with the media in their personal capacity undermines First Amendment protections, weakens government transparency and limits the public’s access to information about federally funded services.
“Government employees do not sacrifice their First Amendment rights when they go to work,” said SPJ Executive Director Caroline Hendrie. “These groundless investigations and gag policies send a chilling message to anyone considering speaking to reporters, fostering a climate of fear and self-censorship that has no place in a democratic society.”
The letter emphasizes that public employees retain the right to speak on matters of public concern as private citizens and warns that policies discouraging such speech risk chilling lawful expression. The coalition urges the VA to drop the reported investigations and reaffirm its commitment to constitutional protections and transparency.
“Investigating Halioua and other employees for speaking with the media is an affront not only to the VA’s obligation to respect its employees’ First Amendment rights but also to the public’s right to know,” the letter states. “Government employees have the right to speak in their private capacity on matters of public concern — including speech about their work. By scaring employees into silence with the threat of discipline, the VA hurts the press, the public and the veterans it serves, depriving citizens of valuable information about the services funded by their tax dollars.”