Dating back to the founding of the United States, whistleblowers have helped protect both the public and taxpayer dollars. In the 21st Century the federal government has sought the help of whistleblowers through the False Claims Act and in whistleblower programs at the SEC, the CFTC, the IRS and the Department of Treasury.
Late last year, U.S. Reps. Jan Schakowsky, D-Illinois, and Lori Trahan, D-Massachusetts, reintroduced the FTC Whistleblower Act of 2024 that would enable the Federal Trade Commission to reward whistleblowers.
In the alphabet soup of the federal government, the FTC’s role is to protect the public from deceptive, anticompetitive, or unfair business practices. It uses investigative, enforcement, and rule-making authority to stop these practices. But the FTC doesn’t have authority to reward whistleblowers financially.
The bill would establish both protections from retaliation and incentives — 10 percent to 30 percent of recoveries — for individuals who report original information about wrongdoing by current or former employers that are overseen by the FTC. Such reports could include violations of consumer protection or antitrust laws and regulations. The program would bring consistency with other federal whistleblower programs.
“Not only does this bill protect consumers from greedy, lawbreaking corporations, but it also supports the whistleblowers who expose wrongdoing,” Schakowsky said in a statement about the bill.
Keller Grover has a deep understanding of consumer laws and has been advocating for their enforcement for more than 30 years. The federal government needs whistleblowers to supplement their efforts to combat fraud, waste and abuse.
If you are an insider with original information about fraudulent activity, contact Keller Grover for a free and confidential consultation. Our experienced whistleblower attorneys can answer questions and work with you to develop prudent next steps. Whistleblowers who help expose fraud using established whistleblower programs may be eligible for an award.