“In response to a letter from GAP and 9 other public interest organizations, the Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program (SIGTARP) sent a letter to GAP demonstrating his commitment to protect whistleblowers who disclose evidence of waste, fraud and abuse of bailout funds. In the letter, Special IG Neil Barofsky states: “One of the principal means by which [the SIGTARP IG’s] mission will be achieved is through gathering evidence of fraud, waste, abuse and misconduct involving TARP funds. Whistleblowers represent a vital source of such information. SIGTARP is committed — even beyond obligations under the relevant provisions of law — to build a robust whistleblower system that will both encourage individuals to come forward and protect those individuals once they have done so.”