
Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, speaks during a hearing on March 6, 2025. Grassley is the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Andrew Harnik / Getty Images
FBI agents would get increased whistleblower protections under bipartisan bill
The measure’s sponsor, Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, has previously slammed the FBI over its enforcement of existing whistleblower protections.
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to ensure the investigative or adjudicative process for an employee who believes that their security clearance has been revoked because of retaliation for whistleblowing is free from conflict of interest.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 administration
“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,” Grassley said in a July 29 statement. “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.”
In response to a request for more information, Grassley’s office pointed to his opening remarks at a Feb. 13 Judiciary Committee business meeting during which he read statements from FBI whistleblowers who generally alleged they were retaliated against for raising objections to certain politically sensitive investigations like those relating to the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol.
Several good government groups have characterized Trump’s nominees for government oversight positions as partisan and warned they could chill whistleblowing.
The bill is cosponsored by Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., the ranking member on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. That panel on July 30 advanced, without opposition, a similar bill from Grassley and Peters that would expand whistleblower protections for federal contractors.
Grassley’s FBI measure is endorsed by the Government Accountability Project, a nonpartisan whistleblower organization.
“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,” said GAP’s legal director Tom Devine in a statement. “We urge Congress to pass this legislation swiftly and finally deliver justice that's been delayed far too long.”
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