Iowa Sen. Grassley calls on DOJ to protect whistleblowers from retaliation

Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, on Friday called on the Department of Justice to implement changes to protect whistleblowers when they come forward with concerns. 

“The Justice Department’s failure to follow the law only serves to create a chilling effect on employees reporting wrongdoing out of fear they will have their security clearances suspended and indefinitely put on leave without pay, with little recourse to appeal the decision,” Grassley wrote in a letter to Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco. 

Grassley pointed to an Inspector General's report that outlined several recommendations for the agency to improve its handling of whistleblowers. Some of the recommendations include reforming the security clearance review process so individuals won't immediately have their clearances revoked if they bring forth concerns. 

Grassley also alleged in his letter that the department has failed to implement previous recommendations given by members of Congress. 

"Accordingly, so that Congress may conduct independent and objective oversight concerning the Justice Department’s identified failures and its efforts to implement of DOJ OIG’s recommendations, please provide answers to the following no later than June 12, 2024," Grassley's letter states. 

He then asked the agency to provide information related to its efforts to adopt the DOJ OIG's recommendations and to account for its practices on the suspension of securing clearances.

Whistleblowers have been making headlines in the past few years due to some coming forward and expressing concerns about the politicization of federal government agencies.