The Inspector General of an agency, or any other agency employee designated under subsection (b), may pay a cash award to any employee of such agency whose disclosure of fraud, waste, or mismanagement to the Inspector General of the agency, or to such other designated agency employee, has resulted in cost savings for the agency. The amount of an award under this section may not exceed the lesser of—

(1) $10,000; or

(2) an amount equal to 1 percent of the agency’s cost savings which the Inspector General, or other employee designated under subsection (b), determines to be the total savings attributable to the employee’s disclosure.

In the case of an agency for which there is no Inspector General, the head of the agency shall designate an agency employee who shall have the authority to make the determinations and grant the awards permitted under this section.

(Added Pub. L. 97–35, title XVII, § 1703(a), Aug. 13, 1981, 95 Stat. 755; amended Pub. L. 99–145, title XII, § 1225(b)(2), Nov. 8, 1985, 99 Stat. 730.)