Efficiency reports that embarrass superiors get their author fired once attention fades.

Evidence

The Hog Island operation was being conducted with all the inefficiency that might be expected from a massive production effort thrown together in wartime haste. When Moses complained about the inefficiency—the shipyard often had scores of hulls and not a single keel to attach them to—he was ignored by Hog Island officials. Trying to outflank the officials, he wrote a report detailing the inefficiency and proposing a complete new material-procurement method and persuaded Van Schaick to give it directly to Washington. Washington was impressed and called the local officials on the carpet. Their response was to wait until Washington’s interest died down and then call Moses in and fire him. — Robert A. Caro, The Power Broker, 379

Categorization

• SEED: Seed for an essay on whistleblower dynamics — reformers who win favor above their bosses pay for it once the spotlight moves.