Inspectors General

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.

PEERMail | We’re Suing to Protect Independent Watchdogs

by PEER | December 22, 2025
This lawsuit is part of our effort to make our government more transparent and accountable to Congress and the American people ...

Lawsuit Filed to Protect Crucial Oversight Watchdogs From Trump-Vance Administration Assault

by PEER | December 17, 2025
Unlawful Defunding of Inspectors General Council Part of Administration's Effort to Mask Conduct, Avoid Transparency and Accountability ...

COMMENTARY | Rebalancing Checks and Balances: How to Curb Executive Abuse

by Jeff Ruch | April 25, 2025
President Trump has conclusively demonstrated that the executive branch cannot be trusted to police itself in following the law ...

COMMENTARY | Trump and the IGs – From Watchdogs to Lapdogs

by Jeff Ruch | March 25, 2025
The role of the Inspector General requires political independence to function properly. That independence is now irretrievably lost ...

COMMENTARY | Administration of “Alternative Facts” – No Fact Checkers Welcome

by Jeff Ruch | February 13, 2025
It is often said that everyone is entitled to their own opinion but not to their own set of facts. That cannot be said of Donald Trump ...
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Silver Spring, MD 20910-4453

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Environmental Responsibility

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EIN: 93-1102740