Grassley Bill Aims to Slow DOJ’s Pushback on Whistleblower Suits

Whistleblowers hoping to expose fraud by drug companies and federal contractors sometimes see the Justice Department push to dismiss their cases without explaining why.

A bill (S. 2428) by Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) to amend the False Claims Act, introduced July 22, would make it harder for the DOJ to end a whistleblower’s FCA case when federal prosecutors say it is meritless, wasteful, or contrary to federal policy.

The FCA says the DOJ may at any point move to end a whistleblower’s action that it doesn’t support, over the whistleblower’s objection, by giving notice of a motion to dismiss and ...