A whistleblower is a person who exposes misconduct, dishonesty or illegal activity occurring in an organization. The 1989 Whistleblower Protection Act is a federal law that protects government-employed whistleblowers from any type of retaliation. Whistleblowers may file a complaint when they have evidence of a violation of a law, rule or regulation. Other possible reasons for whistleblower complaints include gross mismanagement, blatant waste of funds, abuse of authority or a danger to public safety. Whistleblowers typically receive a percentage of the money they save their agencies. The 2010 Dodd-Frank Act authorizes whistleblower awards of up to 30% of the funds collected for those furnishing high-quality original information. The amount of these rewards can be considerable. In 2013, a Justice Department settlement with five of our largest mortgage servicing companies resulted in an award of $46 million to a group of whistleblowers.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is a federal agency that regulates consumer finance markets. It makes and enforces rules which are effective in giving consumers the information they need to make good financial decisions.

Proposed Legislation: H.R.7793 - Financial Compensation for CFPB Whistleblowers Act (116th Congress)
Prospective Sponsor: Rep. Al Green (TX)