Warnock Joins Bipartisan Effort to Strengthen Whistleblower Incentives

Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock joined a bipartisan coalition to enhance protections for whistleblowers Since taking office, Senator Warnock has championed legislation to protect whistleblowers from retaliation Senator Reverend Warnock: “This bipartisan bill promotes accountability and bolsters essential protections for people who risk their careers to stand up to fraud and corruption” Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), John Fetterman (D-PA), and Susan Collins (R-ME) introduced the CFTC Whistleblower Protection and Program Improvement Act of 2026 to provide long-term stability for the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) whistleblower program, strengthen whistleblower protections, and expedite award processing. “No one should be punished for speaking out when they see something wrong. This bipartisan bill promotes accountability and bolsters essential protections for people who risk their careers to stand up to fraud and corruption,” said Senator Warnock. “This legislation will benefit every American taxpayer, and I’m grateful to work with my colleagues across the aisle to strengthen this vital program.” “Since I helped get the CFTC whistleblower program up and running, I’m pleased to see it’s been a big success,” said Senator Grassley. “This program roots out waste, fraud and abuse in the commodities trading industry and operates at no charge to the taxpayer. Now, it’s time for Congress to act so its success can continue. Our bipartisan legislation strengthens protections for patriotic whistleblowers, prevents unnecessary delays in the disbursement of whistleblower awards and ensures the CFTC whistleblower program can operate smoothly.” “Whistleblowers put their jobs and often their lives on the line to call out the most serious offenses in the workplace. Zero doubt that they should be protected,” said Senator Fetterman. “As a member of the Agriculture Committee, I’m proud to introduce this bipartisan bill with Senator Grassley to protect whistleblowers and improve the CFTC whistleblower program.” “The Commodity Futures Trading Commission plays a crucial role in protecting American commodity markets, and safeguarding its whistleblower program helps maintain public trust in the integrity of those markets,” said Senator Collins. “This bipartisan bill would provide long-term stability for the CFTC whistleblower program by strengthening protections for whistleblowers, promoting the timely processing of claims, and eliminating a loophole that can prevent whistleblowers from receiving awards.” The CFTC Whistleblower Program and Customer Protection Fund (CPF) rewards whistleblowers for reporting allegations of wrongdoing to the CFTC using funds collected through enforcement actions. The CPF also covers the operating expenses and educational initiatives that support the CFTC Whistleblower Program. Since 2014, the CFTC Whistleblower Program has awarded nearly $430 million to whistleblowers and issued over $3.7 billion in monetary sanctions. Senator Warnock has long championed efforts to bolster protections for whistleblowers. In December 2022, he successfully secured bipartisan support for the Anti-Money Laundering Whistleblower Improvement Act , which strengthened and expanded the scope of whistleblower reporting standards and financial rewards. Less than a year later, Senator Warnock introduced the SEC Whistleblower Reform Act of 2023 to ensure timely processing of whistleblower claims and protect against retaliation. ###