Commentary

Of Counsel

Jeff serves as Of Counsel to PEER, where he specializes in civil service, scientific integrity, and whistleblower protection issues. Jeff was PEER’s Executive Director from 1997 to 2019 and its Pacific Director from 2019 to 2025. Previously, he was the Policy Director and a staff attorney at the Government Accountability Project, representing whistleblowers from both the public and private sectors. Before coming to DC, Jeff worked in California state government for 17 years, mostly in the State Legislature as counsel to various committees where he drafted hundreds of laws on topics ranging from energy conservation to the rights of employed inventors. Jeff served stints as a deputy district attorney and an appellate court clerk. He is a graduate of the California Correctional Officers Academy.

COMMENTARY | Redeeming Santa Susana: Micro-Steps Up a Mountain

by Jeff Ruch | November 6, 2023
The communities around Santa Susana will continue to suffer while Boeing shirks responsibility and leaves a toxic legacy ...

COMMENTARY | Stronger Whistleblower Protections for Government Contractors

by Colleen Zimmerman | November 3, 2023
Government contractors who blow the whistle on agency misconduct may finally join the ranks of their public employee counterparts in enjoying the same protections ...

COMMENTARY | Artificial Turf Spreads Like Weeds on Long Island

by Monica Mercola | October 17, 2023
Despite known environmental harms, towns and businesses continue to install artificial turf fields at alarming rates ...

COMMENTARY | White House Censorship in the Name of Scientific Integrity

by Tim Whitehouse | October 2, 2023
There is good reason to fear that a new Biden administration policy will create a broad chilling effect on scientific work involving hot button topics ...

COMMENTARY | Why the Chilling Fight Behind Climate Change?

by Tim Whitehouse | September 28, 2023
This country cannot be locked into a new generation of toxic refrigerants, many of which have significant global warming potential ...

Op-Ed | San Francisco’s Sewage Agency Also Needs Some Treatment

by Jeff Ruch | August 31, 2023
San Francisco taxpayers and ratepayers are footing the bill in the fight against tougher sewage controls on its oceanside outlets since 2019 ...
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