CBP DNA Whistleblowers Finally Cleared-Trump Reverses Biden Admin’s Retaliation [WATCH]

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced Monday that it has reinstated and promoted three whistleblowers from Customs and Border Protection

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The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced Monday that it has reinstated and promoted three whistleblowers from Customs and Border Protection (CBP) who were demoted and had their pay cut under the Biden administration after raising concerns about CBP’s failure to comply with federal DNA collection laws.

Fred Wynn, Mike Taylor, and Mark Jones — all officials in CBP’s Weapons of Mass Destruction Division — were previously sidelined after disclosing that CBP had not been collecting required DNA samples from illegal immigrants apprehended at the southern border.

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The three had alleged in a June 2024 court filing that agency leadership retaliated against them for reporting the violations of the DNA Fingerprint Act of 2005.

The trio has now been promoted to new supervisory roles, and DHS confirmed their prior pay cuts and demotions have been reversed. In addition, CBP has reauthorized law enforcement credentials, badges, and firearms for Taylor and Jones, which had been revoked in 2023.

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The announcement follows a years-long campaign by Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), who has advocated for the whistleblowers’ reinstatement.

“Today is a victory for Fred Wynn, Mike Taylor, Mark Jones and the rule of law,” Sen. Grassley said in a statement. “At long last, these patriotic men will be made whole again. I’m very grateful to the leadership at the Department of Homeland Security and Customs and Border Protection, who worked with me to bring these whistleblowers back to their rightful roles.”

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem also acknowledged the restoration.

Arizona is safer this morning after a successful operation getting criminal illegal aliens and gang members off our streets.
Thank you to our brave law enforcement officers.
If you are in this country illegally, we will find you, arrest you, and send you back.“Under President Trump’s leadership, we are restoring what is right and true and getting these patriots back to doing the work they love,” she said Monday.

Rodney Scott, President Trump’s nominee to lead CBP, affirmed during a recent confirmation hearing that he was aware of the whistleblowers and their reputations.

“I do know those three, and I know one allegation that’s never been levied against them is a challenge of their integrity. I will look into this, and I will hold people accountable if they’ve violated policies.”

The Office of Special Counsel concluded in 2021 that DHS retaliated against Wynn, Taylor, and Jones for their disclosures.

Despite this finding, the Biden administration continued to restrict their roles, deny them meaningful assignments, and in the case of Taylor, strip him of law enforcement retirement benefits.

The underlying issue — CBP’s failure to comply with the DNA Fingerprint Act — remains a serious concern. A DHS inspector general report in 2021 found that DNA collection was inconsistent across DHS agencies.

The report stated that CBP and TSA “collected no DNA,” and other DHS components did so inconsistently, potentially resulting in missed investigative leads.

In early 2024, Grassley revealed whistleblower data showing that the FBI received significantly fewer DNA samples than the number of illegal immigrant encounters.

In Q1 2023, there were 865,333 encounters, but only 347,231 DNA samples submitted. That gap persisted in the second and third quarters.

Wynn testified at a Senate roundtable in July 2024 that the trio had been assigned to develop a DNA collection pilot program years earlier, but DHS leadership failed to act.

“The low percentage of DNA collection that we see today allows criminals to commit further crimes including forcible sex offenses, murders, trafficking, drug smuggling and other acts perpetrated on U.S. citizens and residents.”

Taylor testified that the team’s efforts were obstructed by DHS officials who “slow-rolled” implementation.

“Instead of taking the necessary steps to fully comply with the DNA Fingerprint Act, current DHS and CBP management seem more interested in continually retaliating against my colleagues and me for disclosing what can now only be described as their chronic malfeasance.”

Jones said the retaliation began in 2018 and intensified under the Biden administration. “Since 2018, we have been left with no meaningful tasks or work, effectively ending our professional careers,” he said.

President Trump’s January 2025 executive order directed DHS and the Department of Justice to fully comply with the DNA Fingerprint Act. The administration’s decision to restore the whistleblowers signals renewed enforcement of federal DNA collection requirements.

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