Senator Merkley launches whistleblower portal for reporting

Senator Jeff Merkley, a Democrat, has set up a new whistleblower portal. This is for both government and non-government workers to report waste, fraud, and abuse. This decision comes as the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) cuts funding across federal agencies. Many of these cuts have led to legal challenges. Merkley heads the Senate budget committee, which is currently led by Republican Lindsey Graham. With Republicans also in control of the House, any investigations into DOGE will need their support, which is not expected. Merkley criticized the Trump administration for making changes to the federal government without Congress's approval. He stated that many actions, like canceling programs and firing employees, were unlawful. He emphasized that the President must be held accountable. Just last month, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senator Gary Peters launched a similar whistleblower portal. They expressed frustration with Senate Republicans for not checking the power of the executive branch. They are prepared to take further legal steps if necessary.