Public Health

Senior Counsel

Jeff serves as Senior 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 | U.S. Geological Survey Labs Must Cure Culture of Reprisal

by Jeff Ruch | October 5, 2022
Third party review will help prevent future scientific scandals at the U.S. Geological Survey by providing a safe channel for USGS scientists to report problems without fear of reprisal ...

Substantial PFAS Contamination Found in Pesticides

by PEER | September 26, 2022
Threat to Food Chain Justifies Ban of All Pesticides Containing PFAS ...

USGS Inches Toward Accreditation of Wildlife Disease Lab

by PEER | September 14, 2022
Independent Review to Prevent Biosafety and Animal Welfare Breakdowns ...

Food Supply Chain Imperiled by PFAS-Laden Barrels

by PEER | September 12, 2022
EPA Confirms PFAS in Fluorinated Containers Leach into Contents ...

COMMENTARY | The Worst Kind of Backroom Deal

It is time to work to stop the Manchin-Schumer side deal to the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA ...