FBI agents would get increased whistleblower protections under bipartisan bill

This article features Government Accountability Project Legal Director, Tom Devine, and was originally published here.

New bipartisan legislation from Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, seeks to strengthen whistleblower protections for FBI agents.

Specifically, the FBI Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act (S. 2527) would:

• Prohibit FBI supervisors from taking adverse personnel actions against whistleblowers.
• Modify current law to specify that an FBI employee who alleges reprisal can appeal any adjudicative dismissal, determination or associated corrective action to the Merit Systems Protection Board and not just a final determination or corrective action by the FBI. This is a response to a 2024 Government Accountability Office recommendation.
• Require the Office of the Director of National Intelligence to ensure the investigative or adjudicative process for an employee who believes that their security clearance has been revoked because of retaliation for whistleblowing is free from conflict of interest.

Grassley, the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, has authored several laws to provide and enhance whistleblower protections, including for FBI employees, but has criticized the FBI for decades over, in his view, its delayed and lackluster implementation of such requirements. He also accused senior FBI officials of retaliating against whistleblowers during former President Joe Biden’s...

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