Gaetz floats tying FBI director pay to whistleblower treatment through CR

Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., suggested Wednesday that Congress use the next continuing resolution to require that top federal agency leaders not receive a paycheck until whistleblowers are treated fairly. 

"We should put in any continuing resolution until you get paid and the rest of the whistleblowers get their pay ... maybe the FBI director shouldn't get his paycheck," Gaetz said. "Maybe the attorney general shouldn't get his paycheck. Maybe the FBI director shouldn't get the use of the private jet he liked to fly around the country so much."

On Wednesday, the Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government held a hearing to "examine how the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has used its security clearance adjudication process to purge its ranks of conservatives and whistleblowers, and unlawfully punish those with views contrary to FBI leadership."

Empower Oversight President Tristan Leavitt and whistleblower Marcus Allen testified before the subcommittee and alleged the FBI is using clearances as a pretext to violate employees’ constitutional rights.

Allen has previously brought forth allegations with Congress that FBI officials retaliated against him for expressing concern about how the bureau handled Jan. 6 cases and allegedly targeted pro-life groups in the wake of the Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. 

Gaetz also slammed Congress, saying that they signed the checks and continued to fund agencies that mistreat whistleblowers. 

"Any member who votes for these continuing resolutions is voting to perpetrate the punishment that has been instituted on the whistleblowers," he said.