Des Moines Sun

Ten FBI whistleblowers have reached compensation agreements with the Federal Bureau of Investigation after experiencing years of alleged retaliation, including demotions, revocation of security clearances, and extended unpaid administrative leave. The settlements follow negotiations mediated by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa).

The group includes Garret O’Boyle and Stephen Friend, who, along with others, reported waste, fraud, and abuse during the previous administration. Collectively, the settlements address more than 12 years of suspension time imposed on the whistleblowers.

“Whistleblowers risk it all for the sake of simply telling the truth. These 10 whistleblowers’ brave actions were met with intense bureaucratic blowback that caused severe financial and emotional hardship. Their lives were upended for years, but I never stopped fighting until things were made right,” Grassley said. “I appreciate Attorney General Bondi, Deputy Attorney General Blanche, Director Patel and Deputy Director Bongino’s unyielding efforts to prioritize accountability and bring closure to these whistleblowers’ cases. My door remains open to all whistleblowers, and I’ll continue to protect and defend them from retaliation. There is more work to be done.”

Grassley wrote a letter to Attorney General Bondi and Director Patel commending their actions as “an example of government power and authority being used for good.”

According to Empower Oversight, which represents several of the whistleblowers:

“Each of the agreements differ slightly depending on each employee’s particular situation, case, and circumstances. Of these eight settlement agreements:

None required any resignations as a condition of the agreement.

Four involve or facilitate voluntary retirements.

All include lump sum payments for damages.

Four require full restoration of back pay and benefits to be calculated according to the Back Pay Act, which requires putting federal employees in the same financial position they would have been had they not been subjected to an ‘unjustified or unwarranted personnel action.’ See 5 U.S.C. § 5596(b)(1)(A)(i), (B), (b)(2) and 5 C.F.R. § 550.805.

This requires that employees receive interest on all back pay, restored leave, and replaced Thrift Savings Plan contributions—including the agency match and lost investment earnings.

These agreements also require all back pay and benefits to be calculated and paid within 30 days of the employee returning to work and providing all necessary information.

Three require the FBI to return the employees to duty, including Garret O’Boyle, Stephen Friend, and Zachery Schoffstall.”

Empower Oversight further stated: “Your leadership and advocacy for whistleblower protections were essential both publicly and behind the scenes. Without your office, these brave whistleblowers would almost certainly not have received a fair hearing,” Empower Oversight concluded in its letter to Grassley. “On behalf of our clients, their families, and the Americans who advocated for them—thank you.”

Grassley has long criticized how the FBI handles internal investigations into whistleblower complaints—particularly practices such as suspending security clearances or placing employees on unpaid administrative leave without allowing alternative employment opportunities during reviews that can take months or longer. In July he introduced bipartisan legislation intended to strengthen protections for FBI whistleblowers facing security clearance suspensions.

This latest round brings Grassley’s total number of successful resolutions this year involving federal agency whistleblowers—including those at Internal Revenue Service and Customs and Border Protection—to fifteen individuals overall. He serves as co-founder and co-chair of the Senate Whistleblower Protection Caucus.