In a step to uphold accountability and foster transparency in federal agencies, House Republicans have initiated moves to slash a staggering $1 billion from the FBI’s funding.

The proposed cuts are part of an effort to ensure federal whistleblowers are adequately protected, a move reflective of the concerns lawmakers have raised over the bureau’s alleged unfair handling of conservatives.

The bill sanctioning these cuts, staunchly advocated by Republicans in the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies, met with resistance from Democrats in the committee.

While the bill, if enacted into law, would reduce FBI funding by approximately 9%, it is anticipated to face significant challenges in the Senate and White House.

Further deepening these cuts, the proposed bill prohibits the allocation of funds to the FBI’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion.

Similarly, other agency diversity offices falling within the ambit of the appropriations bill are targeted for defunding.

The bill’s scope encompasses a range of federal agencies, including the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Commerce Department.

Complementing the cuts to the FBI, the bill proposes a $2 billion reduction in DOJ funding and a $1.4 billion decrement in the Commerce Department’s discretionary spending.

Appropriations Chairwoman Kay Granger (R-TX) lauded the bill, stating, “The bill holds the Department of Justice accountable and improves our immigration court system. It supports state and local law enforcement and provides critical resources to combat illegal drugs flooding our country.”

In a stride towards promoting justice and transparency, the bill includes a provision to protect whistleblowers from potential retaliation.

RELATED: Biden DOJ Unveils Charges Against ‘Missing’ Whistleblower Who Spoke Out Against Biden Family

The legislation seeks to curtail salaries of federal employees who infringe upon whistleblowers’ rights and violate First Amendment liberties.

The call for enhanced whistleblower protection was amplified by Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH).

He petitioned for the DOJ appropriations bill to incorporate language to outrightly forbid retaliation against FBI whistleblowers.

This includes barring the use of taxpayer money for salaries of officials found guilty of retaliating against a whistleblower.

In defense of free speech online, Jordan pressed the judiciary panel and his “Weaponization of the Federal Government” subcommittee to endorse appropriations bills that explicitly disallow taxpayer funds from being utilized for online censorship and the arbitrary classification of speech as ‘mis-, dis-, or mal-information.’

Testimonies from FBI and IRS whistleblowers this year have fueled these legislative moves.

IRS whistleblower Gary Shapley has claimed retaliation for raising concerns about the DOJ.

Speaking to Just the News earlier this month, Shapley voiced his concerns, “The actions taken by my leadership right now could be nothing but retaliation. They know what prohibited personnel practices are, and they know how to engage in retaliatory activities that somehow obfuscate that piece, whether it’s a prohibited personnel practice.”

RELATED: Biden Administration Quietly Removes Child Sex Trafficking Content from DOJ Website