Teresa Chambers worked as the Chief of the United States Park Police from February 10, 2002 to July 9, 2004, when she was removed from her position. The United States Park Police is a component of the National Park Service, which is an agency within the Department of the Interior.
In 2003, when the Office of Management and Budget decided against increasing the Park Police budget, Chambers spoke with a reporter from the Washington Post and a staffer for the United States House of Representatives Interior Appropriations Subcommittee. Chambers was placed on administrative leave when the staffer told her supervisor about the conversation and the Washington Post ran an article attributing several remarks to Chambers.
On December 17, 2003, the supervisor suggested removing Chambers from her position based on six charges of misconduct. The two relevant charges were: (2) making public remarks regarding security on the National Mall, in parks, and on parkways in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area; and (3) improperly disclosing budget deliberations to a Washington Post reporter. Chambers claims that charges 2 and 3 concern statements that are protected under the Whistleblower Act.
Charge 3 concerns improper disclosure of budget deliberations and was tied to Chambers's statement to the reporter from the Washington Post that "she said she has to cover a $12 million shortfall for this year and she asked for $8 million more for next year."Chambers contends that the disclosure was protected under the Whistleblower Protection Act as disclosing a substantial and specific danger to public safety. The agency contends that because the budget for the coming year had not been submitted to Congress, the disclosure was premature and in violation of agency protocol.
Charge 2 concerns statements that Chambers claims are related to issues of public safety. Chambers made statements about how traffic accidents have increased in an area that has only two officers instead of the recommended four and how there are not enough officials to protect the green areas around Washington, D.C. How do you think the court should rule?