Des Moines Sun

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) has introduced the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act, a bipartisan bill cosponsored by Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.). The legislation aims to strengthen protections for FBI employees who report misconduct.

Grassley stated, “The Biden-Harris administration’s weaponization of the Justice Department and FBI, as well as its egregious retaliation against whistleblowers, caused great damage to our nation's federal institutions. Multiple agents who bravely blew the whistle had their security clearances suspended and were placed under investigation with no end in sight, leaving them in professional limbo and causing serious financial harm. While the Trump administration has taken significant steps to undo the damage, Congress must offer a solution to ensure future FBI whistleblowers aren’t subjected to a similar retaliatory playbook. My legislation will ensure these patriotic whistleblowers receive the protections they deserve, rather than being treated like skunks at a picnic.”

The proposed act would extend protections from the Whistleblower Protection Act of 1989 and later amendments specifically to FBI employees. It would protect those appealing adverse personnel decisions or cooperating in investigations related to whistleblowing. The bill also requires anti-gag provisions authored by Grassley to be included in all relevant nondisclosure agreements within the FBI so employees are aware of their rights when reporting waste, fraud, or abuse—including disclosures made directly to Congress.

Other measures include prohibiting coercion of political activity among employees, clarifying which disclosures are legally protected, and mandating that the Attorney General inform staff about their rights regarding retaliation—particularly relating to security clearance suspensions. The bill implements recommendations from a 2024 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report by clarifying procedures for seeking corrective action from the Merit Systems Protection Board and removes a requirement that forced whistleblowers to wait one year before challenging certain security clearance actions. Additionally, it directs the Director of National Intelligence to prevent conflicts of interest during investigations into clearance denials or revocations.

Multiple advocacy groups support this effort. Tom Devine, Legal Director of the Government Accountability Project said: “Senator Grassley’s bill represents the culmination of more than four decades of fighting to ensure that those who protect America's security have the security to speak truth to power. We urge Congress to pass this legislation swiftly and finally deliver justice that's been delayed far too long.”

Background information provided with the announcement outlines that since passage of Grassley’s original Whistleblower Protection Act during the 101st Congress—which required DOJ action on behalf of FBI employees—there have been ongoing concerns over implementation delays and regulatory gaps highlighted by GAO reports in both 2015 and 2024. Past legislative efforts led by Grassley addressed some shortcomings but did not fully resolve persistent issues surrounding effective protection for agency whistleblowers.

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