Nilgun Tolek, who directs investigations against whistleblower reprisals for the Defense Department inspector general’s office, told reporters that the change “brings the statute up to par with existing whistleblower protections.” He also explained that the “law will provide added protection to whistleblowers from retaliation by requiring ‘clear and convincing evidence’ that a contractor would have taken the same disciplinary action against an employee even if he or she had not come forward with an allegation of abuse,” according to an American Forces Press Service release.
Whistleblowers that have information about government fraud by Department of Defense contractors or subcontractors may be able to receive a portion of any government recovery by filing a whistleblower, or qui tam, complaint under the False Claims Act. A False Claims Act whistleblower complaint cannot be filed without an attorney according to federal law.