WASHINGTON, D.C. — Challenging efforts by the Obama administration to target whistleblowers acting in the interest of public safety, The Rutherford Institute has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to reject the federal government's attempts to eviscerate protections for employee speech under the Whistleblower Protection Act. The case involves a federal air marshal Robert J. MacLean who claims he was improperly fired by the Transportation Security Administration after he leaked to the media a plan by the TSA to remove air marshals from long distance flights as a cost-savings measure. MacLean's disclosure came on the heels of a briefing by his supervisors about a potential terrorist attack. As a result of the ensuing public outcry, the Department of Homeland Security canceled the order to withdraw air marshals from long distance flights within 24 hours. MacLean was eventually fired for acting as a whistleblower.