DOD Finds Air Force Colonel Retaliated Against Whistleblower in Red Hill Fuel Spill Case

A Department of Defense inspector general report has confirmed that Army Maj. Amanda Feindt faced retaliation after warning Congress and the Pentagon about the 2021 Red Hill fuel spill in Hawaii, which contaminated the drinking water of 93,000 residents near Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. Feindt was denied return from leave, demeaned by superiors, and told she “brought it on [herself]” for speaking out. Air Force Col. Kenneth McAdams, the officer responsible, has since retired and refused to cooperate with investigators.

While the report found probable violations of whistleblower protections, no direct remedy was recommended for Feindt. The case highlights how fragile whistleblower safeguards can be, especially within military hierarchies. The Red Hill disaster remains one of the most serious environmental failures on a U.S. base, exposing thousands to toxic jet fuel and raising urgent concerns about the safety of aging military infrastructure near communities and ecosystems.

14-07-2025