; permitting initial request To be made anonymously The first sentence of section 402(a) ( 2 U.S.C. 1402(a) ) is amended to read as follows: A covered employee alleging a violation of law made applicable under part A of title II may, at the option of the covered employee, request counseling by the Office, and may make the request anonymously. . (b) Waiving mediation Section 403(a) ( 2 U.S.C. 1403(a) ) is amended to read as follows: (a) Initiation In the case of a covered employee who alleged a violation of a law and who requested counseling by the Office under section 402(a), not later than 15 days after receipt by the employee of notice of the end of the counseling period under such section, the employee may, at the option of the employee, file a request for mediation with the Office. . (c) Time for election of proceeding; permitting initial election To be made anonymously Section 404 ( 2 U.S.C. 1404 ) is amended to read as follows: 404. Election of proceeding (a) Election Not later than the applicable deadline under subsection (b), a covered employee alleging a violation of a law made applicable under part A of title II may either— (1) file a complaint with the Office in accordance with section 405; or (2) file a civil action in accordance with section 408 in the United States district court for the district in which the employee is employed or for the District of Columbia. (b) Applicable deadline The applicable deadline under this subsection is— (1) in the case of a covered employee who requests counseling by the Office under section 402 but who does not request mediation under section 403, not later than 90 days after the end of the period of counseling under section 402; (2) in the case of a covered employee who requests counseling by the Office under section 402 and mediation under section 403, not later than 90 days after the end of the period of mediation under section 403