section 1221 of title 5, United States Code, bring a private action for all appropriate remedies, including injunctive relief and compensatory and punitive damages, in an amount not to exceed $250,000, against the agency of the employee or contracting agency of the contractor employee who took the personnel action, in a Federal district court of competent jurisdiction. (4) Requirements (A) Review by inspector general and by external review panel Before the employee or contractor employee may bring a private action under paragraph (3), the employee or contractor employee shall exhaust administrative remedies by— (i) first, obtaining a disposition of their claim by requesting review by the appropriate inspector general