Context:

Two Republican senators have accused officials at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) of misconduct and mismanagement, claiming they inflated their salaries through illegal job reclassifications. Despite federal audits highlighting these violations, the responsible supervisory agents were allegedly promoted under the Biden administration, instead of being disciplined. The senators, Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst, have demanded immediate corrective measures and cited whistleblower accounts that exposed the scheme. They specifically pointed out two officials, Lisa Boykin and Ralph Bittelari, who were involved in retaliating against whistleblowers and continuing the misclassification practices. The senators have urged the Department of Justice to respond with a plan to address these issues by May 23, expressing concern over the lack of accountability and waste of taxpayer money.

Dive Deeper:

• Senators Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst have urged corrective action against ATF officials for alleged misconduct, including inflating salaries via job misclassification, in violation of federal directives.

• Despite findings from internal audits by the Office of Personnel Management and ATF's Internal Affairs Division, officials involved in the misconduct were promoted instead of facing repercussions.

• The senators singled out Lisa Boykin and Ralph Bittelari for continuing the illegal practices and retaliating against whistleblowers who tried to expose these violations.

• Specific instances of misconduct include the unauthorized relocation of an employee and the improper classification of a position within the ATF, both of which were ignored despite being flagged by audits.

• Whistleblower disclosures revealed that Boykin and Bittelari's actions resulted in significant waste of taxpayer dollars, yet they were rewarded with promotions under the Biden administration.

• Grassley and Ernst have called on the Justice Department to submit a detailed response by May 23 on how they intend to address the misconduct highlighted in the audits.

• The senators expressed concern over the disregard for federal law and the promotion of individuals involved in these illegal practices, emphasizing the need for accountability within the Justice Department.