OPINION AND COMMENTARY
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This summer, the U.S. Department of Justice secured a $7.7 million settlement against Florida-based contractors for defrauding the Small Business Administration. The Justice Department was able to recover this money thanks to whistleblowers who disclosed the corruption by bringing a case under the False Claims Act.
This case illustrates the need for better protections for whistleblowers who work for U.S. government contractors — these truth tellers are key to exposing corruption and protecting taxpayer dollars.
The Florida companies, HX5, LLC and HX5 Sierra, LLC, submitted false information to receive contracts intended for certain types of small businesses, including those owned by women, veterans, and members of racial minority groups. When corrupt contractors violate the law in this way, they steal funds and opportunities from Florida’s deserving small businesses.
In this instance, whistleblowers came forward with crucial information the federal government needed to take back fraudulently obtained funds. But in many cases, contractor employees may be afraid to come forward with such accusations.
Employees of government contractors who speak up and expose this type of waste, fraud and abuse of taxpayer funds have few rights to...
The lawsuit alleges the CCRB’s online database, 50-a.org, unfairly harms officers by listing serious accusations including sexual misconduct, racial profiling and making false official statements ...