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.

BLOG | Opposing the EPA Plan to Restrict Science

by Kyla Bennett | May 21, 2020
The new EPA plan to restrict science is subject to the interests of political appointees and is not based on exisitng scientific integrity standards ...

BLOG | There Is No “Trump Exemption” – That Is Why We Are Suing

by Tim Whitehouse | May 19, 2020
PEER and Western Watersheds Project sued the Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt, alleging that Bernhardt has used temporary appointees to lead the National Park Service and the Bureau of Land Management in violation of federal laws and the U.S. Constitution ...

BLOG | Dr. Bright’s COVID-19 Cronyism Case Is Tough to Crack

by Paula Dinerstein | May 13, 2020
The case of Dr. Rick Bright concerning corruption in federal vaccine development should be Exhibit A for serious reform of the federal whistleblower system by the next Congress ...

BLOG: Why Blow the Whistle?

by Kevin Bell | May 12, 2020
What makes whistleblowers finally blow the whistle? When their daily outrage at wrongdoing begins to outweigh their personal risk ...

BLOG: Sliming Lincoln’s Memorial

by Jeff Ruch | May 7, 2020
Interior Secretary Bernhardt ordered the Lincoln Memorial closed so that President Trump could give an interview on the current pandemic ...

BLOG: EPA Should Sit Out Earth Day This Year

by Jeff Ruch | April 20, 2020
Recent actions by the Environmental Protection Agency’s current leadership cast a sad reality- the EPA should sit out Earth Day this year ...
Phone: 202-265-7337

962 Wayne Avenue, Suite 610
Silver Spring, MD 20910-4453

Copyright 2001–2025 Public Employees for
Environmental Responsibility

PEER is a 501(c)(3) organization
EIN: 93-1102740